Proof of ID: Building Access and Personhood in the Social Service Ecosystem Through Exchange.

The article examines how valid government-issued photo identification (ID) documents critically influence consumer access to the marketplace and social services for individuals experiencing deep poverty and homelessness. It highlights that lacking an ID leads to dehumanization and exclusion from essential services, while obtaining an ID facilitates access to benefits, employment, housing, and social recognition, thereby contributing to a restored sense of personhood. Through mixed-methods research with a social service nonprofit, the study reveals that IDs serve as a key currency enabling participation in exchange and fostering humanizing social interactions within the social service ecosystem. The findings underscore policy and practical implications, including reducing barriers to obtaining IDs, reconsidering ID requirements for service access, and improving law enforcement practices to enhance well-being and inclusion for vulnerable populations.