BOONE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER -- Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is traveling across the state to try and save a program that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Carnahan’s “Safe at Home” program is on the Missouri legislature’s chopping block in 2013.

The “Safe at Home” program is an address confidentiality program that protects victims and their children.  Victims get a substitute mailing address to use on new records they create with government agencies and the courts.  Their mail is sent to the bogus address and forwarded to their confidential address.  This helps prevent abusers from finding their victims.  Carnahan wants Missouri lawmakers to set aside about $100,000 a year for the program on a permanent basis.  If lawmakers do nothing, the program expires in 2 years.

Carnahan said, “If you will please call your representative, call your senator and let them know how important it is to make this a permanent program to protect men and women of our state.”

At the Boone County Government Center, Carnahan was joined by Barbara Hodges, the Executive Director of Columbia’s True North or what used to be called The Shelter.  Hodges reported there were more than 250 documented cases of sexual and domestic violence in Boone County so far this year.

Hodges said, “We take it for granted that, so what, if you know where I live.  Sometimes, a woman who has been in an abusive situation doesn’t even want to give out her first name, much less, the address where she lives.”

More than 1,000 Missourians have used the “Safe at Home” address confidentiality service since it started 4 years ago.

The “Safe at Home” program has seen bi-partisan support in the Missouri legislature in the past.  Carnahan hopes lawmakers put politics aside and permanently fund this program.

For information on how you can enroll in the “Safe at Home” program, you can click on the link below.