Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness among women. Here’s what most people don’t see and how you can help.
When you think of a homeless person, what image comes to mind?
If you’re like I was, you probably picture a man on a street corner. Maybe he’s holding a sign, asking for money, or he’s yelling at no one in particular.
But that image doesn’t tell the whole story. I learned that with the very first interaction I had volunteering at the Homeless ID Project at the Keys To Change Campus in downtown Phoenix.
A Birth Certificate and a Chance to Start Over
My first task was simple: Take a birth certificate to the main area and deliver it to the appropriate person.
So I walked out there and called out the name “Robin” expecting a man to answer.
Instead, a woman raised her hand with visible excitement. I unclipped her birth certificate from my clipboard and walked toward her and I didn’t expect what came next…
She started to cry.
I was taken aback by this as all I was doing was handing over a simple government document.
Robin shared her story with me, how she was the victim of repeated domestic abuse, and how she had to rush out in the middle of the night. No purse. No cash. No documents. No ID.
When she tries to find a shelter, access public benefits, or get money out of her bank account, she’s told:
“You need an ID.”
Robin was from California and had never updated to an Arizona Drivers’ License. In Arizona, to get your first ID, you need a birth certificate. That single piece of paper became a barrier to safety, housing, employment, and other essential services.
Without it, Robin was out on the street.
In fact, Robin had been on the streets for over 6 weeks. And now, her abuser had found out where she was. It was Friday and she was leaving town that afternoon. If her birth certificate hadn’t come in, she’d be on the streets for another 6-8 weeks.
Now, with a birth certificate in hand, she could move to her new destination, get an ID, pull money out of her bank account and start to rebuild her life.
Domestic Violence and Homelessness: The Hidden Connection
Robin’s situation is far from rare. National studies show that over 90% of women experiencing homelessness have previously endured domestic violence.
Let that sink in.
These are not people who are lazy. They’re not criminals. Robin didn’t choose to be out on the streets. She chose to survive and the price of survival was homelessness.
Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness for women and children. When survivors make the difficult, and often dangerous, decision to leave their abuser, they frequently do so without financial resources, family support, or even basic documentation.
After talking to Robin, I looked around the lobby and was surprised to see that about 1 out of 3 people there were women. I hadn’t noticed that when I first walked into the waiting area.
What Does Homelessness Really Look Like?
Homelessness isn’t what we think. It’s not the simple stereotype. It doesn’t always look like tents under an overpass. Sometimes, it looks like the Mom with the small child standing next to you in line at the grocery store. Or the child in your kid’s classroom who hasn’t had a stable place to sleep in weeks.
Changing the perception of homelessness means recognizing its complexity. It means understanding that for many women, homelessness is a byproduct of trauma, not personal failure.
As a first time volunteer, I became a big believer in what the Homeless ID Project was all about and the impact that our incredible staff, kind people like Sarah, Yulonda, Jon, and Angelica, make to help those rebuild their lives. These are the unsung heroes making sure every document gets where it needs to go. I had the easy job – I simply delivered the results of their hard work.
But there’s a tremendous amount of effort that goes on behind the scenes to change lives.
After that interaction, I made the decision to become a consistent volunteer at the Homeless ID Project. In addition, I made a sizable donation to help out. In January of 2025, I proudly became a member of the Board because I’m very honored to contribute to helping the Homeless ID Project rebuild the lives of victims like Robin.
Over the course of 2024, the Homeless ID Project helped 3,068 women rebuild their lives with a birth certificate and/or ID. We have a dedicated staff of four people and volunteers that help make the place run. But we’re not publicly funded. The IDs and Birth Certificates aren’t free. They’re not even discounted.
Many nonprofits perform wonderful work on housing and job programs, but the Homeless ID Project focuses on the one thing often overlooked: providing identification for homeless individuals, especially women impacted by domestic violence.
It costs just $32 to provide a woman fleeing domestic violence with the ID and birth certificate she needs to reclaim her life. Whether you give once or join our monthly supporters, your donation goes directly to removing life-altering barriers.
If you believe that safety, dignity, and second chances shouldn’t depend on a piece of paper, we invite you to be part of the solution by making a donation here:
Let’s stop asking, “Why don’t they just get a job?”
Let’s start asking, “What do they need to start over?”
Because sometimes, the answer is simple: They need an ID.