> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.theplatia.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Changes may be coming to the Philly shelter policy - URL: https://www.theplatia.com/philly-shelter-system-id/ - Published: 2026-10-06T13:44:12.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-06T13:44:12.000Z - Description: A glimpse of future policy leaves us with questions - Author: Annemarie Dooling - Tags: Social Services Last month there was some confusion after a note was sent to community support organizations mentioning a policy change regarding who can access Philadelphia shelters. According to the note, the Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services was requesting shelters to ask for the identification of clients they believe might not be from Philly. The note didn’t specify how they might believe that, or if that counted people already in beds, but said it was an effort to free beds for what they believe are residents in need of beds. Sent to various agency support groups, it read, “Our FY25 and FY26 data indicate that approximately 7%-10% of all shelter intake assessments were completed for non-Philadelphia residents.” But the note also says OHS does not require everyone seeking shelter to show a state-issued photo ID, and that ID or “other documentation” may be requested when “there’s reasonable concern” that the person seeking shelter may not be from Philadelphia. The vagueness of the message, as well as the questionable understanding of what identification to use, caused concern among homelessness advocates, domestic violence specialists and harm reductionists, questioning what kind of information someone should have on them. This comes with the understanding that someone living in an emergency situation might not have multiple forms of identification on them if they are seeking shelter. And there are, obviously, more support systems in Philadelphia than surrounding suburbs, with Delco having about 4 county-run shelters to Philly's 60 shelters and support organizations. By late September, another note was sent out retracting this request, saying OHS was "temporarily pausing the residency prioritization while we prepare and issue clarifying guidance.” That note goes on to say that any change in policy will come with a 30-day window for organizing necessities to put that policy in place. We still can’t really be sure what that means for people seeking shelter who don’t have ID, or if OHS will help folks find ID, so I asked a local expert to help me understand what kind of ID folks should prepare if they believe there’s even a small change they might need to seek shelter in the future. You can read that entire article on The Platia later this week, and I'll leave my email open if you have questions about best ways to prepare for seeking shelter. ### How you can help Contact OHS if you don't believe this policy helps, and let them know. [Here's the contact information](https://www.phila.gov/departments/office-of-homeless-services/?ref=theplatia.com) and copy you can use: "Dear friends at OHS, As a Philadelphia, I am concerned about policy that might limit beds based on identification. I encourage you to look into transportation, transitional housing, work programs and other programs that help place everyone in-need into a shelter, rather than turning people away for lack of ID."