IDignity

IDignity
Providing identification
for the poor

A Reflection On My First IDignity Experience by Ava Lane of First United Methodist Church, Orlando

I decided to go to IDignity after Justin, our Associate Youth Director, guilted all the newly graduated seniors into signing up. Honestly, I was dreading it. The first day of summer vacation and I was up at 6:30 AM to “make a difference in the lives of the homeless - one ID at a time“. I had done a lot of volunteer work in my time in the Youth Group, and the one thing I knew I wasn‟t good at was working with people. Coughing out the dreaded „small talk‟ was hard for me, so I wasn‟t sure how much help I would be. I also thought the process probably needed lawyers or notaries or at least capable adults who had more than a high school education to be of any use. But I showed up nonetheless, ready to serve my 8 hours and go home.

I walked tentatively into the building and realized I had forgotten to register for a position. A kindly woman told me it wasn„t a big deal. “It‟s OK dear, just go see Michael the Program Director. He will find a job for you.” The hard part was tracking him down. He is in constant conversation and/or motion for the entire time he‟s at IDignity. I found him the same time as a man with a more pressing problem: the clients were getting restless. Michael turned to me, “Want to go into the heat?” “Sure!” I replied. I was terrified.

“The heat” was two steps outside: cranky people in a long line. Michael needed to reassure one angry man; but, when the crowd saw his red shirt that signifies authority at IDignity (mine was blue), several others mobbed him hoping for attention to their individual needs. I stood silently at Michael‟s side, smiling for lack of anything more useful to offer.
Michael assigned me to the job of “Intake”, or filling out some basic background information with the clients, as well as the forms they‟ll need to get IDs and Birth Certificates. It takes a little bravery to look someone in the eye and ask “How long have you been homeless?” They shake their head, they look at a spot beyond your left shoulder, and they give their answer. 2 days, 6 months, 10 years. I met all types of people, and learned so much about them just by fitting their life into the little blanks. One man taught me the difference between a guy‟s “girlfriends” and his “lady”, another could not remember the last time he had a home. Many answered the question “Where did you sleep last night?” with “Out front on the sidewalk!” which is unfortunately necessary as they are trying to get a good spot in line. While IDignity is able to serve over 200 clients per event, there is often twice that many in line when the event opens.

Prior to IDignity, I had been led to believe that homeless people were to be avoided or ignored for my own safety. Yet, now I was not just paying attention to them, I had all my attention focused on them. What I found was that of all people, the homeless least deserves our ignorance. Why would the people who need the most help be the people we pay the least attention to?

When the day was done I was pleasantly worn out. Some of the other volunteers asked me, “See you next month?” and I surprised myself with the certainty of my answer, “Of course”! A volunteering experience had finally made me doubt my mantra of “I don‟t work with people”. IDignity is simply people serving people, with efficiency and ease. I feel comfortable there because everyone is on the same level, just some are in need for the time being and some are helping for the time being. And the mint brownies are nice, too.

Ava Lane with IDignity Client

Rev. Rodney Wallace at the Intake Table
Rodney

IDignity
Providing identification
for the poor

Churches join to offer identification and dignity to Orlando's homeless
[Article by Lisa Hamilton from [episcopallife online"]

Long Lines
Long line waiting for assistance in front of the Union Rescue Mission

Survival as a homeless person in America takes more than courage and perseverance. It takes identification. A social security number, a state ID and a birth certificate is a trio sometimes called "the golden ticket" since at least two forms of identification are typically required to apply for a job, open a bank account or enroll in a drug rehabilitation program, especially if one does not have a permanent address.

To tackle this situation, five downtown Orlando, Florida churches -- Episcopal, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Roman Catholic and Lutheran -- have launched IDignity, an all-volunteer organization that secures legal identification for about 250-270 clients each month. Each IDignity event takes place at the centrally located Orlando Union Rescue Mission.

"The unity of five churches working together is what has empowered us to take on this challenge," said Michael Dippy [of First United Methodist Church] in an interview. Dippy, a commercial property appraiser and designer, serves as volunteer coordinator. Since June, IDignity has drawn between 70 and 80 volunteers from the churches and the Orlando community one Saturday each month.

As the churches began to organize the project late last year, Dr. Tom Bates, a retired ophthalmologist, read about the effort in the newsletter of his parish, the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Orlando, and decided to get involved.

Bates says his volunteer work has opened his eyes. "I now have a better idea of how badly most of the homeless want to work," he said in an interview.

Bates finds the often complicated challenge of obtaining out-of-state birth certificates particularly satisfying. While some native Floridians receive identification in a few hours, it is more complicated for those born elsewhere. "It's a maze of bureaucracy," Bates said in an interview.

"It took us three months to get an out-of-state birth certificate" for a recent client," Bates recalled. "But the other day, I ran into him in the supermarket and he was beaming—couldn't say 'thank you' enough -- once he got ID, he was able to get a job."

Because clients must be turned away each month at the first-come, first-served event, lines begin forming as early as 4:30 a.m., three and a half hours before the doors open.

Dippy estimates that each event costs around $4,000.00. About half of that expense is funded by government sources, with the remainder coming from churches, individual donors and grants.

Grateful clients, and the volunteers who serve them, believe the money is well invested, and that the identification documents are tools for self-sufficiency. IDignity's YouTube video features a client who said upon receiving his identification, "Now I can get a life and get a job." Another client said, "If I drop dead on the sidewalk, I won't have to be a John Doe."

According to Dippy, homeless people who have been helped by IDignity are increasingly among the ranks of volunteers.
Regardless of economic situation, Dippy says, "One of the most rewarding parts of coordinating IDignity volunteers is to see them become advocates for the poor."

SERVICES

Providing Florida ID Cards, Birth Certificates and Social Security Cards with assistance from legal counsel. The U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs will also be available.

IDIGNITY.ORG

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Volunteers at work providing dignity through identification