Housing (Homelessness)

HB 4531 would require West Virginia to provide homeless U.S. citizens residing at shelters with free identification documents, including photo ID cards, replacement driver’s licenses, and birth certificates. To qualify, applicants must live at a shelter, use the shelter’s address on their application, and have shelter staff verify their residency via an affidavit. The state would confirm U.S. citizenship using documents like birth certificates, passports, or naturalization certificates. Each eligible individual could receive only one document per 30-day period.

SB 442 creates a new "homeless education coordinator" position in West Virginia counties designated as "urban" by the State Board of Education. This position will directly assist homeless children and youth in accessing and staying in school by addressing barriers to attendance and enrollment. The bill amends education law to clarify the coordinator's role in supporting homeless students, ensuring they receive necessary services under federal and state education requirements. The coordinator will work within designated urban counties to implement strategies that prevent school disruption for homeless students.