LOUISVILLE,Ky — Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle worked together during this year’s legislative session to help Kentuckians experiencing homelessness. 

House Bill 21 was signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear on April 7th. The new law lowers the cost of an ID for someone experiencing homelessness to $5.

It would also allow people staying at a homeless shelter to use that place as their address. Also included are changes to make it easier to renew a driver’s license. 

“The main thing with House Bill 21 that I really appreciate is that the ID is more in line, it’s more equitable as it is for someone who is housed,” Shannon Frey, services and volunteer coordinator at the St. John Center in Louisville said. 

The new law also helps homeless youth by allowing teens to get a state ID without a parent present. 

All of this, Frey says, wouldn’t have been possible without 

Organizations like the Coalition for the Homeless and the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky.

“It took us a couple of years, but I’m very happy that it finally passed,” Frey said. 

St. John Center serves around 120 to 150 people daily. Frey says most of their guests take advantage of the services they provide beyond just a place to get out of the elements.

“So this is the day shelter part and so you’re seeing guests come in who are coming in to take a shower, they’re coming in to obtain ID services,” Frey said.

Fray describes St. John as a low barrier center, meaning, among other things, an ID is not required to come in. 

However, that’s not the case for most things. 

“You need that to pick up a prescription, you need that to go to the library, you need that to fill out a job application, you need that to fill out a housing application, so it’s incredibly important to have valid identification,” Frey said. 

The newly signed law will go into effect in July 2025.