SOS Safe at Home Requirements

AUTHORITY:

Public Chapter 1004

What is the Purpose of the Program? How does the Program accomplish this purpose?

The purpose of the Safe at Home Program is to protect the confidentiality of a program participant’s confidential address, which will most often be their residential address. Once a program participant has been approved to participate in the program, they will be provided with a ‘substitute’ address. The program participant will then be able to use ‘substitute’ address as their official mailing address for all state and local government purposes and for their children, including public school or public benefits enrollment, subject only to a few limited exceptions. By doing so, the participant’s confidential address will not appear in public records relating to either themselves or their children. 

The applicant must have relocated to a new residence within the previous thirty (30) days or presently intend to relocate to a new residence within the next ninety (90) days.  

Link to Secretary of State’s website https://sos.tn.gov/safeathome

What happens to mail sent to the substitute address?

The Safe at Home Program will receive all first class and certified mail sent to the substitute address and then forward that mail to the participant at their designated mailing address.

Who should consider applying to participate in the program?

Victims of domestic abuse, stalking, human trafficking, or any sexual offense, who:

• are attempting to escape an abuser, stalker, or other aggressor;
• are currently residing in a domestic violence shelter or other crisis shelter;
• are currently temporarily residing with family or friends;
• have moved to a new home within the previous 30 days;
• have children; or
• rely upon, or will need to rely upon, public assistance programs.

​What the Safe at Home Program does not do:

• Help participants change their identities or relocate.
• Remove or delete existing public records.
• Offer legal advice.
• Relieve participants of their legal or financial responsibilities

What the County Clerk Needs to Know:

• The applicant shows the Safe at Home Authorization Card for proof of residency and ID.
• The county clerk looks at the expiration date to ensure it is valid.
• The address listed should be used as the registrants address.
• The county clerk will enter the county of residence as it appears on the card.

Please see the below attachment for a sample Safe at Home Authorization Card: