Your Address Is More Than a Location: How Not Having an Address Creates Barriers

By Aleena Rahemtulla

An address is often something we take for granted, but it is incredibly important for accessing everyday services and opportunities. Individuals who experience homelessness face additional barriers because they do not have a permanent address, which extends beyond housing and can affect identification and government services, banking, employment, healthcare, and more. Not having a permanent address can reinforce social exclusion and make it more difficult for individuals experiencing homelessness to achieve stability (Bonner et al., 2025). 

Identification is often required to verify one's identity when accessing services or completing administrative processes. For example, in Saint John, New Brunswick, clients must present proof of residency and a valid Medicare card to access food banks, including things like an I.D. with a current address, a utility bill, a bank statement, insurance forms, and more (Bonner et al., 2025). Individuals that are experiencing homelessness struggle to obtain this identification due to a multitude of circumstances, such as missing required documents, financial constraints, and difficulty keeping documents safe while lacking stable housing. It is, “common in homeless shelters to have one’s personal belongings, where IDs and other personal documents are typically stored, taken if left unattended for even a short period of time or while sleeping” (Sanders et al., 2020). The Canada Revenue Agency identifies several challenges that individuals experiencing homelessness may face when accessing government services, including verifying their identity, obtaining and keeping important documents, and accessing government benefits. As a result, even individuals who are eligible for government benefits may experience difficulties navigating the systems necessary to access them (Canada Revenue Agency, 2018). 

Employment can also be affected when individuals face difficulties obtaining the documentation needed for administrative processes. Identification requirements can create obstacles when attempting to open bank accounts or access financial services (Bonner et al., 2025). These barriers can limit access to financial services, make securing employment more difficult, and reduce opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness to establish financial independence. Financial instability can then make securing permanent housing more challenging, and the cycle continues. Administrative requirements can compound the difficulties already associated with homelessness (Sanders et al., 2020).

Individuals experiencing homelessness may also face barriers to accessing primary healthcare. Research examining Calgary’s homeless population identifies several barriers, including financial, geographical, and structural barriers within healthcare systems. (Campbell et al., 2015). These challenges demonstrate that having healthcare services available does not necessarily mean that everyone can access them. A lack of a permanent address can make it more difficult to receive important correspondence, such as appointment information or medical documents. These challenges can complicate interactions with healthcare providers and make navigating the healthcare system more difficult. As a result, barriers related to identification, documentation, and housing instability can compound existing difficulties in accessing appropriate medical care and maintaining overall health.

An address represents more than a place to live. In our society, it is connected to the documentation, services, and opportunities that are needed to establish stability. Difficulties accessing identification, banking, employment, government services, and healthcare can compound the challenges already faced by people experiencing homelessness. Potential solutions include community organizations that assist with identification and documentation, connecting individuals to essential services, and making administrative processes more accessible. Recognizing these interconnected barriers is essential to creating more accessible systems that support individuals experiencing homelessness. 

Works Cited

Bonner K., Fana N., Lunney S., Merriam D. (2025), Eyeing ID: Access to Identification as a Barrier to Banking and Other Social Determinants of Health https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12564360/

Canada Revenue Agency (2018), Ethnography of Homeless and Housing-Insecure Canadians’ Experiences Filing Taxes and Accessing Benefits, Government of Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/programs/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/corporate-reports-information/ethnography-homeless-experiences.html

Sanders C. et al. (2020), “You Need ID to Get ID”: A Scoping Review of Personal Identification as a Barrier to and Facilitator of the Social Determinants of Health in North America, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7345293/

Campbell D. J. T. et al. (2015), Primary Healthcare Needs and Barriers to Care Among Calgary’s Homeless Populations, BMC Primary Care https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4603688/