About Safe Place

Safe Place is a national youth outreach service 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 initiative involves the whole community to provide safe havens and resources for youth in crisis. 

Safe Place creates a network of Safe Place locations — schools, fire stations, libraries, grocery and convenience stores, public transit, YMCAs and other appropriate public buildings. These locations extend the doors of youth service agencies and emergency shelters throughout the community.

The Mission of National Safe Place 
To provide access to immediate help and supportive resources for all young people in crisis through a network of site sustained by qualified agencies, trained volunteers and businesses. 

Safe Place History 
Safe Place began in Louisville, Kentucky in 1983 as an outreach effort of the YMCA Center for Youth Alternatives. The success of the Safe Place Program has prompted the implementation of this youth shelter outreach program in 714 communities throughout the United States.

More information about National Safe Place

On April 24, 2014 Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) affiliated with National Safe Place and launched the LSS Safe Place program in Duluth, making it the first Safe Place organization in the state of Minnesota. Since then we have added Safe Places in other communities we serve as well.

Community Support
LSS Safe Place utilizes trained, committed volunteers who are on-call and available to respond to youth in crisis.

LSS Safe Place relies on engagement from local organizations and business that make a commitment to offer a Safe Place for youth and to train their employees to be responsive to the needs of youth. We are always seeking additional locations.

View our Duluth Safe Place sites. 
 

Information about becoming a Safe Place location