Victims of domestic abuse have another avenue to escape their attackers, if only they know about it.
It’s called the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program , a way to provide a substitute mailing address to victims of domestic violence, rape or stalking. Their mail can be forwarded to the Secretary of State’s office which then sends it on to a discreet mailing address, keeping abusers from easily finding their home.
Jim Clardy, executive director of the Jefferson City Rape and Abuse Crisis Center says the key is raising awareness about the program. Clardy says that if victims of sexual abuse know about the program they will be more likely to step forward and accept services.
Representative Judy Baker (D-Columbia) sponsored the bill during the legislative session. She says the statistics speak loudly. The State Highway Patrol documented more than 40-Thousand complaints of domestic violence in 2006.
The Secretary of State’s office is training assistants throughout the state to help participants enroll in the program.
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