Rebuilding ID, one document at a time
Do this first
Contact PAID (Partners for Access and Identification)
PAID runs clinics across Toronto helping people experiencing homelessness apply for essential ID. Check the clinic calendar or call to find the pathway for your document.
Call 647-577-PAIDOr contact Street Health's ID program
Helps people obtain Ontario Health Cards, birth certificates or proof of legal status when needed, and SIN support.
Gather anything you have
Old ID, photocopies, mail, a shelter letter — partial documents speed everything up.
If you have no fixed address
Not having an address does not block you from getting ID. Ontario has a “recognized institution”process that can let people without a permanent residence use an institution’s address for an Ontario Photo Card. ID clinics like PAID and The 519’s PAID clinic support people without a permanent address through several document pathways, including proof-of-address letters.
Ask the clinic — don't self-reject
If you assume you can’t apply because you have no address, you may skip help you qualify for. Ask an ID clinic which pathway fits your situation.Document pathways
Birth certificate
Ontario birth certificates can be ordered or replaced online if the birth took place in Ontario and was registered. A fee applies — verify the current amount. ID clinics can help if you have no ID or address.Ontario Health Card
Street Health's ID program helps people obtain Ontario Health Cards. Also useful for accessing care — see the health guide.Ontario Photo Card
Government photo ID for Ontario residents 16+ who don't have a driver's licence. Apply in person at ServiceOntario with original documents proving legal name and date of birth. A fee applies — verify the current amount.SIN (Social Insurance Number)
A birth certificate or proof of legal status can support a SIN application — Street Health's program includes this pathway.
Fees, photos, and appointment rules vary
Document-specific fees, photo requirements, appointment rules, and eligibility need direct verification with the clinic or ServiceOntario before you go.What to say
“I do not have stable ID and may not have a fixed address. Can your clinic help me apply for ID, a health card, a birth certificate, proof of status, or a SIN? What should I bring, and do I need an appointment?”
Key contacts
PAID — Partners for Access and Identification
The Neighbourhood Group program running ID clinics across Toronto for people who are homeless, living on the street, in shelters, or in encampments.
Email PAIDinfo@tngcs.org. Clinic schedule, documents, and any fees vary by ID pathway — check the calendar.
Street Health — ID Services
Helps people obtain Ontario Health Cards, birth certificates or proof of legal status when needed, and SIN application support.
Phone, address, and hours were not confirmed in this research round — contact via streethealth.ca first.
ServiceOntario
Ontario Photo Card (residents 16+ without a driver's licence) and birth certificate applications. Photo card applications are in person with original identity documents.
Fees apply for photo cards and birth certificates — verify current amounts.
The 519 — PAID ID Clinic
Hosts a PAID ID clinic that can support people without a permanent address through several document pathways.
- Address
- 519 Church St, Toronto
Clinic schedule needs confirmation before visiting.
Peer worker tips
- Sequence matters: birth certificate → health card / photo card → SIN. Ask the clinic which order fits the client's situation.
- Photocopy or photograph every document the moment it arrives — replacement is the expensive part.
- A shelter letter or agency letter can serve as proof of address for some pathways — ask before assuming it can't.
- ID unblocks income: OW/ODSP applications move faster with ID in hand. Pair this guide with the income guide.
Next step for most people: the income guide.
Sources
All sources accessed July 2, 2026. Service details change often — call first to confirm hours, intake, and availability before travelling.
- PAID — Partners for Access and Identification — The Neighbourhood Group
- Identification Services — Street Health
- Ontario Photo Card — Government of Ontario
- Get or replace an Ontario birth certificate — Government of Ontario
- The 519 — The 519