1-888-870-DOCS
Available Every Wednesday + Voicemails and Texts are Encouraged
9 AM - 5 PM Eastern • 8 AM - 4 PM • Central 7 AM - 3 PM Mountain • 6 AM - 2 PM Pacific
The I Am Here: Vital Document Legal Hotline for Youth is a free, dedicated legal hotline for youth experiencing homelessness to help obtain essential identification and vital documents.
Getting vital documents like IDs and birth certificates shouldn’t be hard, but for young people experiencing homelessness, it often is. Every state is different, adding more barriers for youth in tough situations.
That’s why the National Network for Youth and Baker McKenzie are launching the I Am Here: Vital Document Legal Hotline for Youth, a free national resource to help youth navigate this complicated system with support from legal professionals who know the ins and outs.
Please note that the hotline has changed its hours to open earlier, beginning May 6, 2026. Updated start time is 9 AM Eastern / 6 AM Pacific.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when I call?
If you call during Wednesdays between 9 AM – 5 PM ET, you will be connected with pro bono legal professionals and lawyers. If you call outside of operating hours, you will leave a message that will be returned, possibly outside of the Wednesday call time.
Can I text the hotline number?
Yes! The operators will respond through text.
What guidance does the hotline provide?
Callers will receive state-specific legal information on obtaining vital documents. This hotline does not provide legal advice.
Do I need to be experiencing homelessness to call?
No! Any young person is welcome to call and ask questions about how to get vital documents. Having a valid government-issued photo ID is essential for meeting daily requirements, including simple tasks like collecting packages or prescriptions, entering public and private buildings, and using interstate transportation. Youth experiencing homelessness are encouraged, as they often face steep obstacles to obtaining documents.
Why do youth experiencing homelessness need vital documents?
Without these documents, accessing services such as housing, education, and employment becomes exceedingly difficult, thereby prolonging their homeless situation. Ensuring that youth have the necessary documentation is a critical step to ensuring youth are able to access what they need to survive, stabilize, and become self-sufficient.
For youth experiencing homelessness, access to identification is critical for certain tasks that are vital to the survival of youth experiencing homelessness, such as securing employment, applying for public benefits (e.g., SNAP), opening a bank account, establishing a mailbox, or enrolling in school or workforce programs.
There are four common and critical barriers:
- Obtaining Birth Certificate (or Other Valid Government-Issued Identification)
- Age Limits and Parental Consent
- Fees
- Proof of Residency
How common is it for youth to experience homelessness?
- National estimates show that 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness on their own each year. 700,000 are ages 13 to 17, and 3.5 million are young adults ages 18 to 25.
- Of the 18- to 25-year-olds experiencing homelessness, one in five also experienced trafficking for sex, labor, or both.
- 44% of young women were pregnant or parenting while experiencing homelessness.
- In the 2022-2023 school year, public schools identified 1.4 million students experiencing homelessness, a 14% increase over the previous school year.
Who is organizing the hotline?
This hotline is the result of a partnership between the National Network for Youth and Baker McKenzie.
National Network for Youth is dedicated to preventing and eradicating youth homelessness in America. Founded in 1974 by community-based youth service providers, they are committed to shaping public policy and community practices to end youth homelessness and keep youth in crisis out of juvenile detention and child welfare systems. NN4Y has evolved, but its core mission has remained unwavering—to transform systems so that no young person in America experiences homelessness.
Baker McKenzie has helped clients navigate the complexities of an ever-changing world for over 75 years. Through their pro bono initiatives, they engage teams of problem-solvers to tackle compelling social justice challenges globally.
Help Us Spread the Word
We want as many young people as possible to know this hotline exists and to use it! It’s here to help get vital documents like IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards to access housing, education, jobs, and safety.
We have created a Communications Toolkit to help spread the word and reach the youth who need this service the most. It includes FAQs about the hotline, graphics, flyers, and templates for emails and social media posts.
Whether you’re sharing on social media, emailing partners, or posting flyers in your community, every action counts. Together, we can break down these barriers and make sure no young person experiencing homelessness is held back just because they don’t have a piece of paper.
We are here to help!
In addition to the toolkit, we are always looking for new ways to share the hotline and partner with organizations and community leaders to make sure everyone knows about this resource. When sharing on social media, don’t forget to tag us so we can uplift your message. We are doing a campaign to partner with organizations across the country, sharing information specific to your network and community.
If you would like to partner with us in any way, including social media, email campaigns, or designing flyers that relate directly to your community, please contact Kaila Craw at kaila.craw@nn4youth.org.
