Was Homeless, Arrested, wants to turn life around. No ID, or license ??WHERE TO START???

Question

My adult son is in Jail. He was homeless, then arrested for stealing. He will be released soon and doesn't know where to start. He doesn't even have and ID. He says he wants to go to school. He does have a felony charge against him for hitting the person who was trying to detain him. We can not have him live with us. Where does a person in this situation start?

Answer 1

Do you have his records in order to obtain an ID?

When he gets out, first thing is to go get him a valid i.d.  Then ecourage him to find a job in an area where there is also a shelter.  He should have little trouble finding a shelter that will let him stay if he is employed or looking for a job.

Many chain restaurants hire people with felonies to work in their kitchen, as a dishwasher.  He should stay in the shelter until he has enough money to possibly rent an efficiency, a studio- something affordable enough to rent out with one pay check.

From that point, you think about school.  If you don't want him living with you, he most likely wont be able to just start school after he gets out.

Many community colleges offer online courses- which would help with transportation- if you guys have an old computer you're willing to donate for him to get an education.

Good luck to him

Answer 2

You will need your social security card and your birth certificate.  Go to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and obtain a State I.D. if you do not have a drivers license.

You will at least have an I.D. then.

Answer 3

Try looking for group homes in your area. You can call your local social services department to find out what other resources are available for your son. They may be able to help you get started. There are programs he may be eligible for like job corps. He will have housing and pay and will get help getting his GED or HSED, they will help him learn a trade (like construction).

EDIT: I just wanted to add that he should work on attaining one goal at a time so that he doesn't become overwhelmed. I will seem like he has a lot to do, but if he say gets an ID first, then he can work on getting his diploma, then a job, then paying off fines, then working on getting a DL, etc. Obviously his most basic needs should be met first, a roof over his head, meals..things like that need to be taken care of first.

Good luck!

Answer 4

The first thing one should do is get those documents and then enroll into school. He can still get a grant(s) as long as the charges weren't drug related. If he has a Ged of diploma he can be housed in the dorms at college. If he doesn't have the ged or diploma he can go to a shelter for men and they will help him obtain a GED. And after that he can again be housed in the dorm at the college. It is one of the questions asked when enrolling in college. I think it asks if grant money will be needed for housing.

Answer 5

You can order his birth certificate on line.  With that he can get a state ID  or a driver's license.  You really didn't give us enough detail to help you.  How old is he?  How much education does he have?  Is he a vet?  There are organizations that help people in his situation.  Call your county Social Services Dept.

Answer 6

Shame on Theodore, you don't have a clue....My son is 31 and just paroled to my house, which I'm a widow and was reluctant to have a thief in my house again, but first, get his birth certificate and hopefully he will have his prison ID, if not they require 2 forms of id, like old school records, or a DL. or Divorce or Marriage license  (Which he didn't have) then after the SS number you can take it to the DMV for his DL.  Hopefully he won't have any outstanding tickets or you will have to pay them.  The Parole officer will set up meetings with him and help him get a job through unemployment office.  Good luck I hope it works out for you, my son  got out of prison last Oct but jumped probation last March,  he was doing drugs  and scamming people and now he is back in prison.