Home Base Program

Any Friendship House client in need of a mailing address and phone service is welcome to access the Friendship House Home Base Program.  This program includes the use of our phones for making and receiving business-related calls, the use of our post office box for receiving mail, the safekeeping of one's personal documents in our office depository and the limited storage of one's personal property.  Clients desiring to access these services must do so in writing by completing a client intake form and agreeing to abide by the program guidelines.

Program Guidelines

 I. Mail Service:

All mail must be addressed to our post office box, not our street address. Mail should be addressed:

(Client's Name)
P.O. Box 1517  
Wilmington, DE 19899

 Mail is picked up once each weekday at the Central Post Office by a designated Friendship House staff person.  No other staff person or client has authority to get mail out of our post office box.  Clients who try to do so will lose their mail  privileges.

Mail is distributed at the Friendship House Day Centers during office hours.

Clients with mail are required to sign for it on the daily log sheet.  Clients, not known to staff, may be required to present picture I.D.

Mail not picked up after thirty days will be returned by Friendship House to the sender.

Clients desiring their mail forwarded to another address need to give that address to Friendship House in writing.  Friendship House will continue to forward a client's mail for 90 days after receiving such a written request.  During this period the client is expected to contact the appropriate parties of his/her change of address. Because the P.O. box is in Friendship House's name, not the client's, the Post Office will not automatically forward the mail. After 90 days Friendship House will return such mail to the sender.

II. Phone/Fax  Service:          
                            

Phone Number: 302-652-8278
Fax Number:     302-652-8641

Clients may make local, business related phone calls during office hours. This is done by signing the phone log.  Especially during our busy times, calls need to be brief (maximum of 3 minutes) and one per   person.  Clients in need of making multiple phone calls or calls that require extended phone time should arrange to come back in the afternoon when things are less busy.

Clients in need of making long distance calls or calls of a confidential nature should request a conference with a staff person in the office to discuss privately the nature of the call.

When staff receive a phone call for a client, they will try to find the person, if he is on site.  If the client is not present, they will take a message and post it on the message board.  Phone messages will held  for the client for 10 days after which they will be thrown away.

Clients needing to send or receive information by fax need to get permission from a staff person on each occasion.  Faxes being received by Friendship House for a client must be sent with a cover letter identifying the person for whom the fax is intended.

III. Document Depository Service:

Clients desiring to store their important papers with Friendship House will receive a 9" x 12" mailing envelope with their name on it.  Envelopes must be able to be fastened and should not contain anything other than papers, i.e. no money, books, watches, rings, etc.

Clients may access their envelopes whenever the office is open.  Clients not well known to the staff may be required to present picture I.D.

Clients who no longer maintain contact with Friendship House must claim their papers within the same calendar year.  Unclaimed papers will be disposed of at the end of each calendar year.

 IV. Personal Storage:

Clients who are new to Friendship House and clients who are involved  in certain  Friendship House programs may be given  the use of a locker.  See a Friendship House staff person for the details of the locker program and to see if you qualify. 

Cash, items of extraordinary value, any perishable material should not be stored in the lockers.  The storage of weapons, welding, flammable, explosive or inherently dangerous material is strictly prohibited.  If the possession of any item is illegal, its storage at Friendship House is also strictly prohibited. Friendship House assumes no liability for loss of any cash or property which any client chooses to store in his locker. All items left in storage are subject to visual and hand examination by the staff of Friendship House at any time without prior notice.  

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