Use of a participant's designated Safe at Home mailing address in lieu of his or her confidential address helps to prevent survivors of violence from being found by their assailants. California's businesses play an important role in preventing the exchange and sale of confidential address information.

While businesses are not required to comply with the laws that govern the Safe at Home program, for the safety of your client, it is recommended that you use the participant's designated Safe at Home mailing address in lieu of his or her confidential address on public records. Or, if the confidential address is required in order to provide services, you may employ measures to protect the participant's account and confidential address information, such as requiring the use of a password.

Accepting the Designated Safe at Home Mailing Address:

  • The participant will present his or her Authorization ID card to you.
  • The participant's designated Safe at Home mailing address includes the Authorization ID number and must be included on all the participant's mail.
  • The Authorization ID number should be entered so that it appears on the piece of mail either just after the participant’s name or on a seperate line. See examples below:

Jane Doe #5555
P.O. Box 1679
Sacramento, CA 95812-1679

OR

Jane Doe
Attn: #5555
P.O. Box 1679
Sacramento, CA 95812-1679

OR

Jane Doe
P.O. Box 1679 Box #5555
Sacramento, CA 95812-1679

Back to Top

Confirming Active Participation:

  • Contact Safe at Home at: 1-(877)-322-5227 to confirm the active participation of a program participant.
  • Confirmation of other information on file may be provided only with the written request of the participant. Written requests must include the participant's name, Authorization ID number, confidential address on file, party to whom the information may be released, and the participant's signature and date.
  • Requests for confirmation by the participant must be submitted to Safe at Home via fax at: (916) 653-7625 or by mail at: Safe at Home, P O Box 846, Sacramento, CA 95812.

Back to Top

Doing Business with a Safe at Home Participant:

  • Per Government Code section 6207 local, county and state agencies are required to accept and use the participant's designated Safe at Home mailing address in lieu of his or her confidential address on public records.
  • Businesses may require the confidential address in order to conduct their normal business.
  • If the confidential address is required to provide service to the participant's residence, it is important to the safety of the participant that your business or organization provide a means to insure that the participant’s confidential address information does not become available to the public.
  • Participants are encouraged to ask questions when conducting business before providing their confidential address information, such as:
    • Is my confidential address required by law?
    • How will my confidential information be stored?
    • Who will have access to my confidential information?
    • Can my account be password protected?
    • Can a notation be made in my file to not release any confidential information without notifying me?
    • Will my confidential information be sold to third parties?
    • Can I get assurances in writing that my confidential information is protected and will not be sold to or shared with third parties?

Back to Top

Dos and Don'ts to help protect the participant's confidential address information:

Do–

  • Password-protect the participant’s account.
  • Call the Safe at Home Program at 1-(877) 322-5227 if you have any questions about the program services.

Don't–

  • Provide the participant’s confidential address or telephone information to anyone.
  • Publish the participant’s confidential address or telephone information online.
  • Sell the participant’s confidential address or telephone information to other companies.

Back to Top