SafePlace...Buses, Businesses, SafeHouse!

Safe Place is a national youth outreach program that educates thousands of young people every year about the dangers of running away or trying to resolve difficult, threatening situations on their own. This easily replicated community initiative involves the whole community to provide safe havens and resources for youth in crisis.

Safe Place creates a network of "Safe Place locations" - youth friendly businesses, schools, fire stations, libraries, YMCAs and other appropriate public buildings that display the distinctive yellow and black Safe Place sign. In many communities the local transit system takes part, designating buses as mobile Safe Place sites.

These Safe Place sites extend the doors of the youth emergency shelter or youth service agency throughout the community. Youth are easily able to access immediate help wherever they are.

In March 2000, Project Safe Place joined with the Riverside Transit Agency to provide 114 mobile Safe Place sites in and around Riverside. RTA has designated all fixed route buses as mobile “Safe Place” sites. There are currently 225 sites in the County of Riverside. The program, entitled "Ride To Safety", provides youth in crisis with quick and safe transportation to Operation SafeHouse. SafeHouse enjoys partnerships with several businesses and corporations.  We  are excited to have the Riverside Plaza join us as our newest Safe Place site.

A strategically placed black and yellow sign identifies Safe Place sites. A child can access the business and seek assistance. Employees of Safe Place sites are instructed to contact the shelter staff (Operation SafeHouse) for intervention, assistance, and services. Safe Place provides a valuable resource to the community by making available safe and secure places for youth who are in trouble. A unique feature of the program is that it is a collaborative effort between public and private sectors coming together for one special goal – keeping children safe.