For citizens who require a government ID in order to access services, the City of Detroit is reintroducing an essential resource.
“Some of these services we just take for granted– you and I can go into a bank and open up an account, but there are folks who need this card to open doors, and that’s what we’re trying to do here at the Health Department,” Denise Fair Razo, Detroit chief public health officer stated.
Everyone living inside the city limits, including children, retirees, returning citizens, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and undocumented immigrants, can obtain the ID.
“It can’t be junk mail. It has to be official mail for them to prove proof of residency,” Diana Garcia, program manager for the Detroit ID program stated.
In 2022, the initiative was shelved due to an excess of caution.
“We knew that some residents felt like their information could be compromised. We did our research. We did due diligence, and there were no security breaches,” Fair Razo stated.
This time, officials looked for a separate vendor who would solely print the cards since they were concerned that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could obtain the information.
“We wanted to make sure that the data wouldn’t be stored permanently.” A community engagement worker with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center named Christine Sauvé stated, “The data couldn’t be accessed by an outside party.”
At the health department’s block celebration on Mack Avenue on Saturday, applications for the ID will be accepted from noon to four p.m. The city website has a comprehensive application checklist.
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On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., applications will be processed at the Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere St., and the Detroit Health Department, 100 Mack Ave.
If you are in need or a part of the unhoused population, officials will waive the $10 ID charge. Children under the age of eleven can get the card for free.
Go to the city website to find out more information about the Detroit ID.
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