I am only trying to help. I am sorry if I am bothersome.
Here is all I could find regarding how to help you. I suspect you may have been down this road? If so, ignore.
I think your plan sounds good so far. I hope it all works out.
The following illustrates what I have found in 15 min of searching in an attempt to help Kay. She is correct of course. There is severe run-around going on.
A golden item to have is a US Passport. Once you have that, this cycle should be broken. Aka a second government issued photo ID.
For a passport...
I remember needing #1, my birth cert as proof, AND #2 is a GOVERNMENT ISSUED PHOTO ID. <-- this is your issue of course. I used my drivers license.
Back when I was a little pup, my dad drove me to DMV to do driving test and get learners permit. Then later of course a drivers license after I passed the test by the skin of my teeth. I don't mean to pry, did this step not happen for you?
If it did, where is your drivers license? If you had one, can you file for a lost drivers license from that state, then try again here in Colorado? Also an expired drivers license may still help? It is a government issued Photo ID of you. If you never had a DL, how did you get to Colorado? And to buy a car, you need proof of who you are etc too.. so.... confused. Sorry.
If you do not have the Drivers License etc, the second item #2 can be obtained by...
Obtain documents proving your place of birth and legal name (Birth Cert?). This can be verified by a birth certificate (yes), passport (cyclical reference huh), naturalization papers or visa.
AND
Obtain a second form of ID and proof of residence (here we go again). This can include a school ID, utility bill or a social security card.
The proof of residence is often from a bank statement or bank issued letter on letterhead for the purpose of showing residence.
School ID may work. I still have an OLD one for myself. Don't know if it would help me now.
If you do not have social security card or school ID, I do not know what to say.
Normally a parent or legal gaurdian would have those things as they were the ones who were supposed to take care of you.
I got a school ID in High-school and then again in College. I still have them. A social security card, same thing, I got one in my teenage years. Still have it.
Do you have such things now? If not, who has them?
then
Visit the Department of Motor Vehicles and fill out the appropriate form for a state-issued ID card. This can often be done online. After presenting your identification documents, you may be required to be photographed and fingerprinted (depending on the state).
Pay the required fee. In some states, you can obtain your ID card immediately; in others, it will be mailed to you within a month.
That would get you a temporary photo ID in some states.
Now with A Temporary Photo ID,and your birth cert and any other docs you have, you might be able to get a passport.
To be honest, you may need help from family on this one.
Heck if you walked into a Post Office which can do Passport Photos, maybe someone there can see all your documents and see what they can do for you? It is their job to know about passports to some degree.