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Is There Mail Service For The Homeless

The document discusses mail service options for homeless individuals. It explains that a homeless person can submit an application for PO Box service to their local post office, and the postmaster may approve it if the applicant is known, provides proper ID, or has a verifiable point of contact. If unable to meet these conditions, an applicant may be eligible for general delivery service with postmaster approval. General delivery provides temporary mail service for those without a permanent address by addressing mail to an individual's name and the city, state, and ZIP code of the processing post office.

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248 views2 pages

Is There Mail Service For The Homeless

The document discusses mail service options for homeless individuals. It explains that a homeless person can submit an application for PO Box service to their local post office, and the postmaster may approve it if the applicant is known, provides proper ID, or has a verifiable point of contact. If unable to meet these conditions, an applicant may be eligible for general delivery service with postmaster approval. General delivery provides temporary mail service for those without a permanent address by addressing mail to an individual's name and the city, state, and ZIP code of the processing post office.

Uploaded by

Justice
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Is there Mail Service for the Homeless?

A homeless person may submit an application for PO


Box™ service to a local Post Office™. The Postmaster may
approve the application under certain conditions.
Nov 1, 2018•FAQ
Article Number - 000003399
Customer Information  
A homeless person may submit an application for PO Box™ service to a local Post Office™. The Postmaster may approve the
application under any one of the following conditions:
 The applicant is known to the window clerk or Postmaster.
 An unknown applicant submits proper ID.
 The applicant provides a verifiable point of contact (e.g., place of employment, shelter, charitable institution, or social
services office).
Applicants who cannot meet these conditions may be eligible to receive indefinite General Delivery service, if approved by the
local Postmaster. Customers should contact their local Post Office for more information. 

____________________________________________
What is General Delivery?
General Delivery is a mail service for those without a permanent address, often used as a temporary mailing address.
Oct 25, 2019•FAQ
Article Number: 000003412
Customer Information
General Delivery is a mail service for those without a permanent address, often used as a temporary mailing address. General
Delivery is intended to be used for:
 Post Office™ locations without city carrier delivery service.
 Non-city delivery offices for those who prefer not to use Post Office Box service and for whom use of Post Office box,
Caller Service, or delivery by letter carrier, would be an unreasonable inconvenience.
 A participating  Post Office to serve transients (people who travel extensively) and those without a permanent
address.
 Anyone who wants Post Office box service when Post Office boxes are unavailable.

How do I address a mail-piece sent to General Delivery?


 NAME
 GENERAL DELIVERY
 CITY STATE ZIP

What are the restrictions on the use of the General Delivery service?
General delivery is normally available at only one facility under the administration of a Post Office with multiple facilities. A
postmaster may authorize more than one facility to offer general delivery service in accordance with customer and operational
needs.  A customer may use only one such location.

Postmasters may restrict the use of General Delivery if a customer:


 Cannot present suitable identification
 Has mail volume or service level (e.g., mail accumulation) that cannot be reasonably accommodated.
If you wish to pick your mail up before regular delivery occurs, we suggest that you purchase a Post Office Box for a nominal fee
(so that your mail is available for pickup every morning).

Additional information regarding General Delivery:


 No application is required for General Delivery. Persons interested in General Delivery should speak with the
postmaster.
 Limitations on the amount of time you are able to use General Delivery, if any, are determined by the postmaster.
 Each piece of General Delivery mail is held for no more than 30 days, unless the sender requests a shorter period.
General Delivery mail may be held for longer periods if requested by sender or addressee and approved by
postmaster. Mail without a specific address or instructions from the sender is held for:
o 10 days if for General Delivery at an office with letter-carrier service.

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o 15 days if for General Delivery at an office without letter-carrier service.
Please Note: General Delivery mail is not delivered on Sunday or Holidays.

How to Get Mail by General Delivery

Getting mail through general delivery is simple: locate the post office that handles general delivery in the area where you want to
receive mail and have your mail directed to that address. You don't even need the street address of the post office, just the right
ZIP code. The U.S. Postal Service implements a few basic rules governing general delivery, some of which are flexible, depending
on the postmaster at the branch.

Find the Right Office

Typically, only one postal facility in an area with multiple branch locations will accept general delivery, though in some cities this
rule is bypassed. Call to find out which facility accepts mail through general delivery. If you want to receive mail while on the
road, select post office locations in key spots along the way.

2Format It

The most important thing to remember is that you must use the ZIP code that corresponds to the post office receiving your
general delivery mail. The ZIP code showing on a piece of mail addressed to general delivery tells the postmaster which office to
send it to. Instruct anyone who will be sending mail to you -- from friends and family to creditors and businesses -- to format
your address as follows: Your Name General Delivery Town, State and ZIP Code To play it safe, do a test to make sure you've
gotten the right general delivery address. Simply address and mail a general delivery note to yourself and pick it up a few days
later.

3Pick it Up

Post offices usually won't hold general delivery mail longer than 30 days, according to the USPS. You can request that mail be
held longer than this, but approving your request is entirely up to each postmaster. When you pick up your mail, be ready to
provide identification, whether it's your driver's license or some other form of official photo ID. The postmaster has the right to
refuse to hand over mail to anyone without proper ID.

4Remember the Rules

There's no time limit for how long you can receive mail through general delivery, though a postmaster may terminate your right
to receive it if you get so much mail the office can't reasonably hold it for you, or if you have a history of letting mail sit beyond
the 30-day limit. Although presenting photo ID is usually required when receiving your mail, the USPS allows one exception to
this rule: If the postmaster or another service representative knows you personally and knows you have no permanent address at
the moment, you may be allowed to have your mail.

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