WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — A new form of identification known as Community Action ID is available for people living in Wake County.

What You Need To Know

  • Community Action ID is now an available form of identification in Wake County

  • The ID can be used as a tool by law enforcement, health centers, schools, nonprofits, businesses and cultural arts organizations

  • Community Action ID is designed to help people who may not have access to government-issued forms of ID

The Community Action ID program was started eight years ago in Greensboro by the nonprofit FaithAction Network. The organization partners with local law enforcement and community resources in order to make the ID cards a verifiable form of identification.

These ID cards can help in situations with police, accessing medical care and prescriptions as well as with education opportunities in schools. Eniris Riddick Delgado with FaithAction Network says this resource can help people who may not have access to government-issued forms of ID including new immigrants, refugees, people experiencing homelessness, the LGBTQ+ community and others.

“Through community collaborations and allies that accept the ID, [clients] are going to be able to open bank accounts, to register their children at school, to receive medical services,” Riddick Delgado said. “Because how do you prove as an immigrant that you live here?”

“Essentially they are going to be set up for success because they are going to be able to access basic needs that otherwise they wouldn’t be able to have unless they are at the mercy of somebody else to provide for them. The ID opens that door for them to be able to start their life in America,” Riddick Delgado said.

Mercy Villegas has lived in Raleigh for almost a decade and is one of the first people to receive a Community Action ID in Wake County.

As a mom, it’s very important because I want to be a part of my children and all the stuff they do at school. When I go to the school, they ask me for an ID and I can be part of the field trip or maybe be a volunteer there.“As a mom, it’s very important because I want to be a part of my children and all the stuff they do at school. When I go to the school, they ask me for an ID and I can be part of the field trip or maybe be a volunteer there. This is a possibility for me to be part of that,” Villegas said.

At Wednesday’s press conference for the announcement, Celeste Jones shared her experience as a member of the transgender community. Jones also represents Equality NC and says having a form of identification that represents how she identifies her gender is extremely valuable.

“I think that for a long time people have needed to identify with the identification that they are using. Until a few years ago, you weren’t able to go through that process with the DMV. I think it’s extremely important that we’re now starting to see community IDs where people can present them at work and to law enforcement, who they are,” Jones said. “To me I feel like this is something I can feel comfortable going out and showing people who I am without being discriminated against for just having my normal ID.”

“My hopes are that everybody in this state will be able to have some form of identification and that we are removing the barriers to get there,” Jones said. “I think this is a good step, but what I’m really hoping for is comprehensive nondiscrimination on all different levels of government. That starts statewide and works its way down.”

FaithAction Network has already issued 30,000 ID cards and the organization estimates that as many as 10,000 people in Wake County could benefit from this resource.

This form of identification is not a government-issued ID and is not a license to drive.

The first Community Action ID event in Wake County will take place Saturday. To learn more, visit FaithAction’s website.