Frequently Asked Questions about the AHS ID Program:
At the present time clients who are homeless, at-risk of becoming homeless or very recently housed are eligible. They need to be 18 years or older (or an emancipated youth), have lived in Alberta for 90 days or longer and are legally-entitled to remain in Canada. Work will commence shortly to address the needs of homeless, estranged youth.
The focus of this Program is assisting clients to obtain Alberta Government ID or Alberta Personal Health Cards. In some specific instances, clients can be assisted in obtaining birth certificates.
Where possible we encourage clients to pay for their IDs. Where this is not possible, the Program will cover the costs for IDs, as we don’t want clients to experience any further barriers to obtaining much-needed programs and services.
AHS ID Certifiers have been trained to assist clients in acute care, in community (when supported by AHS Programs and Services), as well as at the ID Repository.
ID Repository “client hours” are posted on the walls outside of all the ID Repositories as they differ in each zone.
First time clients to the ID Repository will meet with the ID Specialist, who will assist in determining which of the Program’s two processes will be employed. Based on this determination, information will be obtained to verify a client’s identification. This may take one or more sessions. Once completed the client proceeds to a Service Alberta Registry to obtain their ID.
Once received, the client has the option of storing their IDs and/or supporting documentation until such time as they are housed and have the ability to do so independently.
If the client chooses to store IDs, they may come in frequently to withdraw or deposit same. While storing at this address, the client also has the ability to use the address for their mail. So in addition to obtaining their IDs, they may also be there to pick up mail.
Any document that has a client’s name may be helpful. At the end, in order to obtain ID, we need to prove that a client is who they say they are, that they’ve been in Alberta at least 90 days and are legally-entitled to remain in Canada. In addition to our partnerships that can assist with this, any of the following documents may also support this:
