The Canadian province of Alberta has been looking into the possibility of issuing biometric identification cards to its homeless citizens to improve their ability to better their lifestyle, according to a Calgary Herald article.
Housing Minister Jonathan Denis cites the homeless population’s inability to obtain bank accounts as a good reason why such ID cards could be a help to them. Additionally, Service Alberta Minister Heather Klimchuk added that such an ID would enable social workers to vouch for their clients’ identities and enable the card holder to list a homeless shelter as a proxy address.
The modes the Alberta government has been discussing include fingerprint and facial scans as well as including a photograph on the card. The news, having reached the homeless community in Alberta, is receiving mixed responses with some expecting such a card to ease their lives significantly, some others citing fingerprint scanners being unable to detect their worn fingerprints and still others railing against it as measures such as biometric data collection are not required to receive other government IDs like driver licenses.
Read the full story here. ![[end]](/resources/bullet/secureidnews-4.gif)
