Businesses and the Public
Use of the Safe at Home address in lieu of the residence address prevents survivors of violence from being discovered by their assailants through documents accessible to the general public or through business entities. 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 Safe at Home P.O. Box in lieu of their residence address information. Or, if the residence address is required, you should treat your client's address information as confidential, perhaps adding a password to protect his or her account.
Accepting the Safe at Home P.O. Box:
- The participant will present his or her Safe at Home laminated authorization card to you.
- The substitute address includes an authorization ID number that must be included on all the participant's mail.
- The number can be found on the lower left-hand corner of the authorization card.
- The authorization ID number should be entered into your system so that it appears on the piece of mail either just after the participant’s name or on the second 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:
- The Safe at Home Program will confirm the active participation of a participant with authorization in writing from the participant.
- The authorization must include his or her name, participant authorization ID number, the name and title of the person authorized to receive confirmation and their phone number.
- The authorization must be dated and signed by the participant.
- It can be faxed to Safe at Home at: (916) 653-7625, or mailed to: Safe at Home, P.O. Box 846, Sacramento, CA 95812.
Back To Top
Doing Business with a Safe at Home Participant:
- Per Government Code §6207 local, county and state agencies are required to accept and use the confidential address in lieu of the residence address on public records and documents, but businesses may require the residence address in order to conduct their normal business.
- If a residence address is required to provide service to the 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 to protect their safety when conducting business, such as:
- Is my address required by law?
- How will my personal information be stored?
- Who will have access to my personal information?
- Can my account be password protected?
- Can a notation be made in my file to not release information without notifying me?
- Will my information be sold to third parties?
- Can I get assurances in writing that my information is protected and will not be sold to or shared with third parties?
Back To Top
Dos and Don'ts:
- Do–
- Password-protect the participant’s account if the residence address is required to provide service to the residence.
- Call the Safe at Home Program at (877) 322-5227 if you have any questions about the program.
- Don't–
- Publish the participant’s address or telephone information online.
- Sell the participant’s address or telephone information to other companies.
- Provide the participant’s address or telephone information to private detectives, law enforcement or other third parties. Often times, assailants will hire private detectives or pose as law enforcement to gather information. Also, assailants who work in law enforcement may attempt to use their status to gather information about the participant.
Back To Top
