A free, dedicated, state-specific legal assistance hotline for youth experiencing homelessness.
The I Am Here: Vital Document Legal Hotline for Youth is a free, dedicated legal hotline for youth experiencing homelessness to help obtain essential identification and vital documents like birth certificates, state IDs, and Social Security cards. This is a partnership between the National Network for Youth and Baker McKenzie.
1-888-870-DOCS ( 1-888-870-3627)
Outside of working hours, callers can leave voicemails that will be returned.
Text the hotline directly, and operators will text back.
Every Wednesday from 11 AM to 7 PM Central Time
Young people experiencing homelessness or those helping them.
Pro bono legal professionals and lawyers.
The I Am Here: Vital Document Legal Hotline for Youth is a free, dedicated legal assistance hotline for youth experiencing homelessness to help obtain essential identification and vital documents.
If you call during Wednesdays between 12 – 8 PM ET, you will be connected with pro bono legal professionals and lawyers. If you call outside of operating hours, you will leave a message that will be returned, possibly outside of the Wednesday call time.
Callers will receive state-specific legal information on obtaining vital documents. This hotline does not provide legal advice.
No! Any young person is welcome to call and ask questions about how to get vital documents. Having a valid government-issued photo ID is essential for meeting daily requirements, including simple tasks like collecting packages or prescriptions, entering public and private buildings, and using interstate transportation. Youth experiencing homelessness are encouraged, as they often face steep obstacles to obtaining documents.
For youth experiencing homelessness, access to identification is critical for certain tasks that are vital to the survival of youth experiencing homelessness, such as securing employment, applying for public benefits (e.g., SNAP), opening a bank account, establishing a mailbox, or enrolling in school or workforce programs.
There are four common and critical barriers:
Vital documents, for youth experiencing homelessness, are often crucial to having a safe place to call home with endless opportunities to achieve their fullest potential.
Getting vital documents like IDs and birth certificates shouldn’t be hard, but for young people experiencing homelessness, it often is. Every state is different, adding more barriers for youth in tough situations. And with the increased immigration and police presence all across the country, it’s more important than ever to know your rights and make sure you have access to your vital documents.
You can call or text anytime and leave a voicemail, but if you want to talk to someone live, today is the day to do it!
