Nonprofit News

It’s our Anniversary. Celebrate with Us!

“For 35 years, we have been honored and grateful to serve runaway, homeless, trafficked, and at-risk youth ages 11-24 throughout Riverside County”.

Since our founding in 1990 by Amy S. Harrison, Susan Stark-Gigandet, and an innovative Board of Directors, SafeHouse has remained at the forefront of youth programming in our county. Our emergency shelter in Riverside—still the only one of its kind serving runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth under 18—was just the beginning. Over the years, we have expanded to include additional programs in Riverside and Thousand Palms, responding to the growing need for services for youth in crisis. No matter the challenge, SafeHouse has always been a place where young people can turn to for support, referrals, and compassionate care.

We are deeply grateful that youth continue to seek us out in times of crisis, knowing they will find understanding and a path to stability. Our mission remains steadfast: to ensure every young person we serve finds safety, encouragement, and a secure future.

Our success would not be possible without the incredible partnerships we have built—with agencies, individuals, and private foundations that provide funding, resources, and collaboration. Your unwavering belief in our mission, along with the love and support of our community, makes our work possible.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank each and every one of you—our supporters, donors, volunteers, and partners. Your generosity and dedication over the past 35 years has changed countless lives.

We could not do this, without YOU.

Thank you for an amazing 35 years of serving Riverside County

Meet Martha and her girls. Martha came to stay with us at the Main Street Transitional Living Program in 2009.

She is celebrating her success with us!

My name is Martha and I don’t know where I would be without Operation SafeHouse. As a former tenant of the Main Street Transitional Living Program, I can tell you this program helps young adults if they put in the effort. I had a traumatic childhood and neglectful parents. By the age of 15, I had major depression, anxiety, and PTSD. No, I was not “homeless” or a “foster kid”, but, my mom had been recently evicted so I was living with family friends on their couch.

When I found this program, I was working at a clothing store at the age of 18, making minimum wage all while being a single mom to a 1-year old daughter. I was introduced to it, by tenants from the program who were working there with me. I still remember in my interview Lisa asked me “why I needed this since I was not homeless”. I told her “that was not my home and I did not want to be a burden on anyone”. To my surprise I was in and this place changed my entire life by giving me a chance. I overstayed the required time, because I decided to try and buy a house at the young age of 20.

By the time I left I had saved over $13,000, which helped me put a down payment on a place of my own. If you are ever in doubt if this program helps, I am the example of what this program can do. As a young single mom who had nowhere to call home, this place became my home and I am proud to say that now at the age of 36, I still have my home and now have two beautiful daughters. I appreciate the donors that believe in this place and I hope this place saves as many young adults as possible.

Sometimes we just need that chance.

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