Mailing Address Assistance Program

Camp Haven Sanctuary offers a Mailing Address Assistance Program for eligible individuals experiencing homelessness who need a temporary mailing address while waiting for shelter placement or receiving approved casework and continuum of care services.

This program is intended to help eligible individuals receive important mail related to identification, benefits, medical care, employment, housing applications, and other essential services.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Mailing Address Assistance Program, an individual must:

Be currently experiencing homelessness.

Be residing in Bastrop County.

Not be placed in any other shelter.

Not currently have stable housing.

Be either:

Applied for placement at Camp Haven Sanctuary and currently on the shelter waiting list, or

Currently receiving services through Camp Haven Sanctuary’s Casework and Continuum of Care Services Program.

Individuals who are placed in another shelter after being approved for the Mailing Address Assistance Program no longer qualify for this program.

Individuals who have moved from Camp Haven Sanctuary into housing do not qualify to continue using the shelter’s mailing address after housing placement.

Camp Haven Sanctuary will conduct a background check on all applicants to determine eligibility for the program, including review of the registered sex offender registry.

Individuals listed on the registered sex offender registry are not eligible for the program unless approved through the exception process outlined below.

If shelter staff become aware that an individual approved for the Mailing Address Assistance Program is not residing in Bastrop County, their access to the program will be immediately revoked and any future mail will be marked return to sender.

Family and Household Mail Policy

Approval for the Mailing Address Assistance Program applies only to the individual who has been approved.

Family members, including spouses, partners, or children, are not permitted to receive mail at the shelter unless they have been individually approved for the program.

If an individual has minor children, those children must be included as part of the application and approved in order to receive mail at the shelter.

Mail received for individuals who are not approved for the Mailing Address Assistance Program will be marked return to sender.

Applicants are strongly advised to include all eligible family members in their application if they intend for those individuals to receive mail at the shelter.

Approval and Agreement Requirement

No individual will be approved for the Mailing Address Assistance Program until they have signed a program agreement with Camp Haven Sanctuary.

The program agreement must be signed in person.

In-person enrollment may take place at Camp Haven Sanctuary or at the Bastrop Public Library, where a shelter staff member can meet the individual. Meetings at the library must be scheduled in advance and are subject to staff availability.

Use of the mailing address is not permitted until the agreement has been completed and approved by program staff.

Program Requirements

Approved participants must check in with Camp Haven Sanctuary at least once every 30 days by phone, email, or text message in order to remain active in the Mailing Address Assistance Program.

Failure to check in at least once every 30 days may result in removal from the program.

Participants must use the full mailing address provided by Camp Haven Sanctuary, including their assigned unit number.

Each approved participant will be assigned a unit number when approved for the program.

Mail that does not include the assigned unit number may result in immediate removal from the Mailing Address Assistance Program.

Mail sent to Camp Haven Sanctuary for anyone who is not approved for the Mailing Address Assistance Program will be marked return to sender.

Packages, Signatures, and Prohibited Mail

Camp Haven Sanctuary will not accept packages for individuals participating in the Mailing Address Assistance Program.

Camp Haven Sanctuary will not accept or take possession of any mail or delivery that requires a signature.

At no time will a shelter staff member sign for any mail or delivery on behalf of a participant.

If packages are delivered for a participant, the participant will receive no more than two warnings. After the second warning, the participant may be removed from the program, and any future mail or deliveries will be marked return to sender.

Illegal substances or prohibited items may not be mailed to the shelter under any circumstances.

If illegal substances or prohibited items are suspected or received, the shelter reserves the right to take appropriate action, including reporting to appropriate authorities.

Medication may not be mailed to the shelter for any individual who is not currently residing at the shelter.

Mail Pickup Requirements

Participants who want to come to the shelter to pick up mail must schedule an appointment at least 24 hours in advance.

Mail pickup is by appointment only.

Participants should not arrive at the shelter without a scheduled appointment to pick up mail.

Mail Privacy

Camp Haven Sanctuary staff will not open mail for participants.

Staff will not open mail over the phone, by text, by email, or by request to identify what the mail is.

Participants are responsible for arranging pickup or approved delivery of their own mail.

Mail Delivery Requests

If a participant wants Camp Haven Sanctuary to bring their mail to them, the request must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance.

Mail delivery is based on staff and volunteer availability and is not guaranteed.

Mail delivery must take place at a public meeting location, such as HEB, Walmart, or another public place approved by program staff.

Camp Haven Sanctuary will not deliver mail to a private residence, apartment, hotel room, residential facility, or any non-public location.

Camp Haven Sanctuary will not deliver mail to a participant more than once per week.

Participants who want to check or receive mail more frequently must schedule an appointment to pick up their mail at the shelter.

Exception Policy for Registered Sex Offender Registry

Camp Haven Sanctuary recognizes that certain offenses may occur as a result of circumstances directly related to homelessness, including situations where individuals do not have access to restroom facilities.

An exception to the registered sex offender registry restriction may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

This may include individuals whose registration is the result of non-violent offenses such as public urination or public defecation, where the underlying circumstances are directly related to the lack of access to housing, sanitation, or restroom facilities.

Approval of any exception requires a majority vote of the Camp Haven Sanctuary Board of Directors.

As part of the review process, the shelter may require additional documentation beyond registry information, including court records or other relevant documentation, at the discretion of the Board.

Approval is not guaranteed and will only be granted when the Board determines that the individual does not pose a safety risk to the program, its participants, staff, or the community.

This exception process is intended to balance fairness and non-discrimination with the shelter’s responsibility to maintain a safe and secure environment.

Revocation of Program Access

Camp Haven Sanctuary reserves the right to revoke access to the Mailing Address Assistance Program at any time, for any reason, based on the discretion of the shelter and its staff.

If access is revoked, any future mail received for that individual will be marked return to sender.

Use of the shelter’s mailing address is a privilege provided to assist eligible individuals with essential services. It is not a permanent mailing address, proof of residency, or guarantee of continued program access.

Application