Address Confidentiality Program
Address Confidentiality Program
At YWCA Spokane, our advocates have been trained and certified to help survivors enter into the
Washington Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) This program is designed to help victims who fear
for their safety maintain a confidential address. The ACP provides a substitute address to use instead of
a home, work, or school address. The program also forwards first-class mail to the survivor from the
substitute address.
What is Address Confidentiality Program?
Passed by legislature in 1991, the Address Confidentiality Program is part of a safety plan that
gives survivors of Domestic Violence a P.O. Box to use so their home address remains private. The
program receives their mail, and forwards to the survivors home address. By using a P.O. Box, survivors’
addresses remain totally out of the public sphere, from voting records or even driver’s licenses if the
survivor so chooses. They will never release home address information.
Address Confidentiality Program Eligibility
To be eligible for the program:
You must be an adult, or parent or guardian acting on behalf of minor or an incapacitated person;
And a victim of domestic violence defined as physical harm; bodily injury; assault; making you fear
immediate physical harm, bodily injury, or assault; nonconsensual sexual conduct; nonconsensual sexual
penetration; coercive control; unlawful harassment; or stalking;
And reside in Washington state; or have recently relocated or are planning to relocate in 30 days.
How to Enroll in ACP
All survivors need to do is contact YWCA Spokane and schedule an appointment with one of our
Advocates. The Advocates will assist in completion and submission of the application. Once the
application is received at ACP, a P.O. Box will be issued to the survivors and begin forwarding their mail.
The applicant will also notify all of the new P.O. Box address in place of their actual address.
This program does not erase past addresses or redact already public information.
ACP is most effective for survivors to join while they are in the midst of moving. If a survivor has their
new P.O. Box to give out once they have moved, their new location address can remain confidential for
many State, city and county services records, driver’s license, school records, court documents and
registrations. The residential address may still be required for utilities setup and other Federal
government agencies.
Confidential Voter Registration
As an Address Confidentiality Program participant, you are eligible to register as a protected
records voter. A Protected Records Voter (PRV) registration form can only be obtained from the ACP by
calling (360)753-2972 to request or from your local elections office. DO NOT register online.
Once the registration is processed, all prior existing voter registration records will be canceled and the
voter’s actual physical address, name, county, and voting precinct number will be kept out of public
record. Both programs, Address Confidentiality and Voter Registration, must be recertified every four
years by the participant.
Questions?
For any questions about the Address Confidentiality Program, please contact the YWCA Spokane at 509-
326-1190 to schedule an appointment. You can find out more information at Washington State
Secretary of State https://www.sos.wa.gov/statewide-programs/address-confidentiality-program-acp.
The helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; please call 509-326-2255, text 509-220-3725, or
email help@ywcaspokane.org.
By: Anita Sather