Las Cruces homeless get IDs, birth certificates provided by New Mexico state officials

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- Three New Mexico State department came together at the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope to provide the homeless with services including state ID’s and birth certificates on Friday. 

According to Community of Hope, the loss of theft of an ID or birth certificate is extremely prevalent. Without one, many people can not apply for housing, healthcare, or jobs. 

“Secretary (Bill) McCamley reached out to me to me about two months ago to ask if this type of fair, helping people get ID’s, birth certificates, and employment was something that we might need and I immediately responded yes, absolutely,” said Nicole Martinez, Executive Director Community of Hope 

The Taxation and Revenue’s Motor Vehicle Division’s Mobile Unit provided ID’s, Department of Health’s Mobile Unit provided birth certificates and flu shots, and the Department of Workforce Solutions helped people search for jobs and work on resumes. 

The fair first took place in Albuquerque earlier this year after the state was approached by a community organizer who addressed the concern many had about not having an ID.

“It came together in about four to five days, a bunch of different departments,” said Bill McCamley, Secretary of New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. “What we found was they did 37, 38 ID’s on a Saturday afternoon so obviously it’s an issue.” 

This is the first year an event like this was held in Las Cruces. 

Community of Hope already offers the homeless community in Las Cruces the opportunity to get their birth certificate and ID throughout the year, but Martinez said not on the level the fair was able to provide Friday. 

“We are impacting so many people by bringing all the agencies together,” Martinez said. “It’s expediting of obtaining those really important documents and they’re so important to people experiencing homelessness.” 

Jose Rodriguez, who is originally from California, had been homeless for 10 years. After his ID expired almost two years ago, he was finally able to get a new one. 

“It’s great,” Rodriguez said. “This is a good program you guys got going cause it helps a lot of people. You don’t understand how many of these people don’t have what you guys have.” 

50 people received an ID, four received a drivers license and 40 people received a birth certificate. 

All the fees were waived by Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Solutions, and Community of Hope.