Limiting records selected from table in db

Hi all,

I have a table within my application database that stores addresses (i.e. Businesses, residents, libraries, hospitals etc). I want to select from that table only residents (defined as addr_type = "R" in addr_type_table) and display a list of these addresses and then be able to do a find of ex. Jane Doe. I have the find worked out, however I have not been able to successfully limit my initial list of addresses to only those of type= "R". If I do it in the controlller, then on initial start up on get all types of addresses. I have tried to work through the model to limit the records but have had no luck. Can anyone help?

Thanks, Lewis