If you need help, Safe Place® is here.

Safe Place gives you places in your community where you can go right now if you feel unsafe, scared, hurt, or unsure what to do.


You do not need money, an appointment, or an adult with you.


Safe Place is free, confidential, and available to youth under 18 (and up to age 21 in some communities).


Find a Safe Place

How to Find a Safe Place

You can find a Safe Place in two ways:

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Look for the Safe Place Sign

It’s a diamond-shaped sign with a house symbol in the word “PLACE.”


You’ll see it posted at places like:

  • Fire stations
  • Libraries
  • Schools
  • Transit locations
  • Youth-friendly businesses
  • Community centers


If you see the sign, you can walk inside and say, “I need help.”


Someone trained will stay with you and contact the Safe Place agency right away.



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If you can’t get to a Safe Place, or if you aren’t sure where the closest one is, you can use TXT 4 HELP.


📱  Text SAFE and your location (city/state/ZIP) to 4HELP (44357).


In seconds, you’ll get:

  • The nearest Safe Place location
  • Contact information for a local youth shelter or agency
  • The option to reply “2Chat” to text with a trained mental health professional—You can text “2Chat” to 4HELP anytime for immediate support; no location needed.


TXT 4 HELP is:

  • Free
  • Quick
  • Confidential
  • Available 24/7/365


*Message and data rates may apply depending on your phone plan.

TXT 4 HELP is available nationwide, as long as you have a cell signal to send a text message. Even if there isn’t a Safe Place program in your community, TXT 4 HELP will connect you to the closest available youth service agency.

What Happens When You Go to a Safe Place

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Go inside and tell the staff you need help.


White background.

A trained employee will contact a Safe Place agency for you.


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You can wait in a safe, comfortable place.


Empty white space.

Go inside and tell the staff you need help.


White background.

A trained employee will contact a Safe Place agency for you.


You are in control of your story and your choices. Safe Place is here to support you, not judge you.

Why Youth Use Safe Place?

You can go to a Safe Place for any reason, including:


  • Feeling unsafe at home
  • Being kicked out or having no place to stay
  • Bullying
  • Abuse or neglect
  • Family conflict
  • Being pressured, groomed, or trafficked
  • Mental health concerns
  • Needing someone safe to talk to


If something doesn’t feel right, it’s okay to ask for help.

Families & Caregivers

Safe Place supports youth by offering immediate, caring help when situations feel unsafe or overwhelming. The goal is always to keep young people safe while connecting them to the support they need.


Safe Place helps families by:



  • Providing a safe place for youth during a crisis
  • Connecting young people to trained professionals who can help
  • Helping address conflict before it becomes more serious
  • Preventing harm, homelessness, or unsafe situations
  • Offering short-term support and connections to longer-term resources
  • Encouraging healthy communication and safe reunification when appropriate


Safe Place responders work to understand the situation, support the young person’s safety, and involve families or caregivers whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so.