Operation SafeHouse

Supporting someone living with a serious mental illness starts with understanding. Taking the time to learn about mental health conditions can help us respond with greater empathy, compassion, and confidence and remind those who are struggling that they do not have to face their challenges alone.

At SafeHouse, mental health support is woven into every program we provide. Through counseling services offered across our shelter, transitional living, street outreach, and community-based programs, our dedicated team provides more than 5,000 hours of counseling each year to youth navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use, and other mental health challenges.

Support can take many forms: listening without judgment, offering encouragement, helping someone access resources, or simply being present. Every act of understanding can make a meaningful difference.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we encourage our community to learn more, speak openly, and support one another, because mental health matters, and no one should struggle alone.

A huge thank you to the Riverside County Office of Education for donating sporting equipment for the youth at SafeHouse, including a brand-new pickleball set complete with a net, paddles, and balls!

Of course, our staff couldn’t resist trying it out first, sparking a friendly competition between our Street Outreach Director, Counseling staff, Director of Youth Services, and Youth Care staff.

Moments like these are a great reminder that fun and connection matter, not just for the youth we serve, but for the teams who support them every day. Taking time to laugh, move, and engage together helps relieve stress, strengthen teamwork, and create a brighter, more positive environment for everyone who walks through our doors.

We are especially grateful for our longstanding partnership with the Riverside County Office of Education, which has supported SafeHouse for 36 years by providing education to our youth through our onsite school. Their commitment goes far beyond the classroom, helping us create meaningful opportunities that enrich the lives of both our youth and our staff.