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Kander Highlights Safe at Home Program in Honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Jefferson City, Mo. — Secretary of State Jason Kander was joined by victims’ advocates as he toured the Hope House domestic violence shelter in Independence, Mo., to highlight his office’s Safe At Home address confidentiality program.

 

Kander was joined by Hope House CEO MaryAnne Metheny to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

 

“Hope House has been a vital partner of my office’s Safe at Home program in the greater Kansas City area for years,” Kander said. “These advocates work to enroll survivors in the program to keep their addresses confidential and out of the hands of their assailants.”

 

“When survivors courageously decide to leave their abusers, programs like Safe at Home provide peace of mind,” Metheny said. “This program’s protection allows participants to register their children in school, vote and get a driver’s license without a fear their abuser might find them. Hope House is proud to be a partner.” 

 

The Safe at Home address confidentiality program was created in 2007 for survivors of domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault and stalking. The program provides a substitute mailing address for participants to use on all new records created with all state and local government agencies and the courts. Over 2,800 participants have been protected by the Safe at Home program to date.  

 

This year, Kander is working to expand the program in two ways: by working to increase the number of trained Safe at Home program assistants throughout the state, and by asking the state legislature to pass a bill that would expand Safe at Home’s eligibility requirements to include survivors of human trafficking.

 

Kander will continue to highlight the Safe at Home program and the work of advocates and law enforcement throughout the month of October to honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

 

Read more about Kander’s ideas to further protect survivors: http://s1.sos.mo.gov/default.aspx?PageId=5692

 

To learn more about the Safe at Home program, please visit www.MOSafeAtHome.com.