Detroit Evening Report: Detroit relaunches city ID program
Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” podcast.
The Detroit Health Department is resuming its Detroit ID Card operation
Officials in Detroit are again offering a photo identification card that allows residents access to various businesses and city services.
Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
The card is designed for people who might have trouble gaining a valid photo ID. It’s available for residents, no matter what their citizenship status or criminal background is, or if they are homeless.
They can use it as acceptable identification for everything from opening a checking or savings account to becoming a utility customer with DTE Energy. It also provides access to health care services, city buildings and libraries.
“Simply put, Detroit IDs remove barriers to access and create opportunities for participation; rather than exclude and deny, they include and accept,” said Detroit City Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero in a statement. “Longtime Detroiters and new arrivals alike should be proud of this program, and I encourage everyone to get one.”
Officials halted the identification program in 2022 over concerns that federal immigration officials could potentially discover applicant’s personal data from a third-party company used in the program, and target undocumented people. Now Detroit officials say they have a new vendor that will keep applicant’s information secure.
The program will officially relaunch this Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Health Department’s
3rd Annual Block Party — which will take place rain or shine from noon to 4 p.m. on John R Road between Mack Avenue and Erskine Street, adjacent to the Health Department.
3rd Annual Block Party — which will take place rain or shine from noon to 4 p.m. on John R Road between Mack Avenue and Erskine Street, adjacent to the Health Department.
-Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News.
Other headlines for Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024:
- Detroit officials celebrated the opening of 14 new affordable housing units designed for people living with disabilities this week.
- Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will name the city’s first Composer Laureate at an exhibit honoring Detroit composers of Jazz and opera music at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, at the Metropolitain Museum of Design Detroit.
- Community Development group ProsperUS Detroit is hosting its annual Family Block Party from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Eastern Market in Shed 5.
- The neighborhood group People for Palmer Park is looking for volunteers for this year’s Harvest Fest on Saturday, Sept. 21.
- Detroit Public Library’s Sherwood Forest branch is hosting a Digital Comic Book Club in-person and via Zoom at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3. The book club meets monthly for adult lovers of comics and graphic novels.
Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
