Safe at Home was formerly known as the Confidential Address Program
From the Office of the Secretary of State:
SANTA FE – New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver today announced updates and additional resources available through her Office’s Safe at Home confidential address program.
The Safe at Home program (formerly known as the Confidential Address Program or CAP) is administered by the Secretary of State’s Office and allows survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to receive mail using the Secretary of State’s address as a substitute for their own, while keeping their actual address confidential.
“October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and as the month comes to a close I want to make sure any person who is eligible to utilize my Office’s Safe at Home resources to protect themselves or loved ones knows how to do so,” Secretary Toulouse Oliver said. “Though using a confidential address is only one part in a long-term personal security strategy, it has become an important component used by survivors in many states across the nation and I encourage anyone who might be eligible to review our Safe at Home resources and contact our Office or a domestic violence advocacy organization for more information.”
“We want to offer our appreciation to the Secretary for ensuring the Safe at Home confidential address program,” said Pam Wiseman, Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NMCADV). “Survivors of domestic violence rely on the kind of protection that it offers. It protects not just survivors’ safety, and that of their families, but it safeguards their rights as citizens as well.”
“The New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc. (NMCSAP) would like to commend Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver for her compassion towards survivors and her desire to provide a confidential manner to vote, rent, receive mail, etc.,” NMCSAP Executive Director Kim Alaburda.
The Safe at Home program helps survivors by denying abusers/stalkers the opportunity to use public records as a means to continue to abuse or stalk the participant. The Secretary of State’s office collects mail for Safe at Home participants from an undisclosed P.O. Box and then forwards the mail on to the participant’s actual, private address.
When participants in the program enter into business relationships with state, city, and other agencies, the use of the fictitious address maintains the participant’s confidentiality. It also relieves those government agencies of the difficult and costly responsibilities of maintaining confidential records. In this way, Safe at Home participants are at a reduced risk from being tracked using public records.
The Safe at Home program also enables participants to participate in New Mexico elections without having their address unnecessarily compromised. Participants who wish to vote do so through a mailed absentee ballot. A random identifier and verification code is issued to the participant prior to an election and the identifier serves in place of the required voter identification and the verification code is used instead of the voter’s signature.
To be eligible for the Safe at Home program, participants must be survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, stalking or similar crimes, and they must be residents of New Mexico who have recently relocated to a place unknown to their abuser/stalker or are planning to move in the near future.
The Secretary of State’s Office has a full-time staff member trained to work with survivors and dedicated to administering the Safe at Home program. Applicants who wish to enroll in Safe at Home must apply to the program by filling out the application packet while in the presence of an application assistant. An application assistant is a person who works or volunteers for a domestic violence or sexual assault program in New Mexico.
Updated Safe at Home materials, including the application packet and an informational brochure, are attached to this release. Additional information and materials are available on the Secretary of State’s Safe at Home webpage.
New Mexico Secretary of State’s Safe at Home Program
Program Summary
The Safe at Home (SAH) program in the Secretary of State’s Office was formerly known as the Confidential Address Program (CAP). Participants are granted the use of a fictitious mailing address, which is maintained by the Secretary of State’s Office. When participants enter into business relationships with state, city, and other agencies, the use of the fictitious address maintains the person’s confidentiality. It also relieves those government agencies of the difficult and costly responsibilities of maintaining confidential records.
In this way, SAH participants are at a reduced risk from being tracked using public records. This confidential program is only one step in the survivor’s long-term, personal security strategy. Survivors can receive help in developing their personal security strategy and finding resources and ideas at a domestic violence program in their area.
Participants receive first-class, certified, and registered mail forwarding and receipt of service of process through their substitute address. Acceptance of the address enables agencies to respond to requests for public records without disclosing the location of the survivor.
Participants choose when to use the fictitious address, or their actual address with various agencies. We hope that you can use the fictitious address all the time, but this may not always be possible. It’s important to know that when a SAH participant chooses to reveal their actual address, that agency is not legally obligated to keep that information confidential.
Safe at Home Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I have to be a New Mexico resident?
Yes, or in the process of moving to New Mexico within 90 days of the date of application.
Who is eligible?
Anyone who is a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, or stalking.
How does the Safe at Home Program work?
SAH participants are granted the use of a fictitious mailing address. When survivors enter into business relationships with state, city, and local government agencies, the use of the fictitious address maintains the survivor’s confidentiality. SAH participants benefit by significantly reducing the risk of being physically located through public records.
Is information released over the phone?
Information is never released over the phone or in person. Information will only be released by court order. The SAH program will, however, confirm participation of a participant in the program verbally after establishing the requesting agencies need to know of said information.
How do I register to vote?
Voter registration requests are deemed a permanent absentee ballot request. After becoming a participant in the program, and having received your signature card, the Secretary of State’s Office acts as the appropriate county clerk for purposes of voter registration. Participants can apply in person at the Secretary of State’s Office or by mailing a voter registration card.
How long can I be in the program?
The program has an expiration of three (3) years. When you are getting close to that time frame and are still in need of the program, please contact the SAH toll free at 1-800-477-3632.
What if there is a child custody issue?
That will need to be addressed at the judicial level; however, participants should make arrangements to meet at a secure, neutral pick up and drop off point (police department for example).
How do I apply?
Survivors who wish to enroll in SAH must apply to the program by filling out the forms included in the SAH Application Packet while in the presence of an application assistant. An application assistant is a person who works or volunteers for a domestic violence or sexual assault program in New Mexico, including the SAH coordinator at the Secretary of State’s Office. The forms must then be notarized by a Notary Public in the presence of the applicant and application assistant. The application assistant will then submit the forms to the Secretary of State’s Office. Before applying, we encourage interested applicants to call the SAH program at the Secretary of State’s Office at 1-800-477-3632 for more information.
How can my government agency or advocacy organization become involved?
Upon request, the SAH program at the Secretary of State’s Office will offer application packets to individual agencies or organizations.
Please call our toll free number if you may be interested. Safe at Home Program P.O. Box 1888 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 Toll Free 1.800.477.3632
