Safe Space is a place run by the people for the people.. it was an honor and a privilege to help facilitate a constructive, constantly growing l, community based group that just want to help those who may not know how to ask or are being ran through the hoops of other charities that only allow aid to those who fall into their category or need. Amazing group helping amazing people. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Safe Space Winter Shelter Inc. is the illustration of reasonable hope in our community, providing warmth, compassion, and support to those in need during the harshest months of winter and the hottest months of summer. Their unwavering commitment to maintaining human dignity, paired with the dedication of their staff and volunteers supporting a harm reduction framework, creates a safe haven where individuals find not only shelter from the cold but also a path towards brighter futures. This organization's impact is immeasurable, and supporting their vital work is an investment in the well-being and transformation of countless lives. Safe Space Winter Shelter Inc. truly embodies the spirit of giving and compassion that makes our community stronger and more caring.
Safe Space Winter Shelter Inc. is nothing short of a lifesaver for those in need during the coldest months of the year. This organization embodies the spirit of compassion and community like no other.
Having volunteered at Safe Space Winter Shelter Inc., I can personally attest to the dedication and warmth of the staff and volunteers. They provide a safe haven for the homeless, offering not just shelter from the harsh winter elements, but also a sense of belonging and hope.
What sets Safe Space apart is their commitment to dignity and respect. They treat every individual with kindness, offering not just a warm bed and a hot meal, but also a listening ear and a supportive hand. It's clear that they genuinely care about the well-being of those they serve.
The impact of Safe Space Winter Shelter Inc. on the community is immeasurable. They don't just provide temporary relief; they work tirelessly to connect guests with essential services and resources, helping them take steps towards a brighter future.
This organization relies heavily on donations and volunteers, and every contribution, whether big or small, makes a significant difference. If you're looking for a nonprofit that truly changes lives and embodies the spirit of giving, Safe Space Winter Shelter Inc. is a shining example. I wholeheartedly recommend supporting their incredible work. Your support can help them continue to be a beacon of hope for those who need it most. Safe Space Winter Shelter Inc. is not just a shelter; it's a place where lives are transformed and where the warmth of humanity shines brightest.
The Chico community is great because of organizations like Safe Space. For me, it is the simple principle of people choosing to help people. Over the years, I've supported the organization in different capacities. I am always inspired by the community volunteers that organize it and by all of the support from people throughout the community - volunteers, staff, donors, churches, service providers, local orgs, and others. This vital community resource helps the most vulnerable of our unhoused neighbors and anyone needing a bit of help. The Safe Space experience and community fill a gap in the network of social services provided, which means that its existence results in lower demand and cost for all of these services. So, in addition to meeting the critical needs of our unhoused neighbors, it also offers many community-wide benefits! This is an essential service, and there is always room for more supporters - so please share this website and these experiences posted here with friends & family! With gratitude,
Having had family members as well as myself being unhoused in the past I had great respect for what Safe Space was doing to help the unhoused. Then after having had the opportunity to volunteer with this organization this last year it really allowed me to realize how much they are truly doing for our community.
I’ve volunteered with Safe Space for 6 years and have seen this organization literally save lives through compassionate care. It’s one of the only low barrier shelters in the area where people are able to access services easily and without judgement.
Safe Space is unlike any other shelter organization in Butte County. They are doing the work that truly needs done, targeting our most vulnerable demographics to support better outcomes. The love and community present in Safe Space’s work is unmatched, building lasting relationships that are the backbone of progress for those in need. In the wake of horrific actions on the part of the City and many of its inhabitants, Safe Space provides a refuge not only from extreme weather, but from the coldness of hatred that is palpable on our streets. Safe Space is just that, a safe harbor for guests, volunteers, community partners, and staff alike.
I worked at the Safe Space Winter Shelter program for over four years and found it to be one of the most eye opening , pivotal , and life changing experiences of my life . The work was not easy , usually challenging , always profound . The folks who came off the streets to the low barrier shelter were often wet , cold , anxious , hungry , confused and sometimes afraid . The staff at SSWS were always calm , gentle , soft spoken , and welcoming . SSWS was well organized and , for the most part , functioned with a smooth regularity given the situation .There were basic rules firmly applied- No drugs , violence , taunting , unwanted touching others and cooperation . I found that almost all of our guests readily welcomed these rules as they provided them with a much needed safe haven from the unpredictable and cold life on the streets . Over time a sense of family began to develope - hot dinners around big tables , story sharing and experiences in a safe and cozy place . I have many wonderful memories of the hard working , dedicated staff as well as the many regular guests I got to know . Each Fall , at the beginning of the SSWS program , sadly I'd learn of some of our guests who'd died over the year - hard lived bodies , often alone . I grew alot
during those years . I don't know that I made huge changes in the world or the lives of our
guests . The simple offerings in the moment of need - an ear to listen , warm food , clean
bedding , a place to wash up and use the restroom , a safe night's sleep, kind people , helpful hands , geniune smiles . Compassion in action in the moment perhaps is all we can hope to bring into this rugged old world . I'm thankful to SSWS , the good folks who worked there and continue to carry on the good work......
With the many excellent nonprofit organizations in Chico, Safe Space ranks highest for me. Safe Space recognizes the humanity of the unhoused folks living in our community and teaches that recognition to others. Safe Space is the only low barrier shelter here in Chico. Low barrier means all humans are eligible for their services, no matter their addictions, mental or physical disabilities, pet ownership, or criminal record. They provide shelter from freezing rain and cold, and from deadly heat. Along with that desperately needed shelter, they offer healthy food, compassion, and often entertainment. Safe Space saves lives.
Safe Space draws the line only when someone's behavior creates a danger to others. On those occasions, the mostly volunteer staff deal with the situation respectfully, setting clear boundaries, yet not insulting the person who is causing the difficulty. At times this requires expulsion - for one night or for several nights. Those clear boundaries combined with kind respect set the tone; guests are mostly courteous, kind, and helpful with other guests and with the volunteers.
It was a great disappointment when Safe Space was denied the opportunity to occupy a warehouse on Orange Street several years ago, where they would have been able to provide their services 24/7. Safe Space continues to seek the permanent building that will greatly alleviate the challenge of the unhoused on our streets. And it will save lives.
I was a Safe Space volunteer for several years. As I interfaced with more experienced volunteers responding to the needs of the guests I learned so much - about respect, acceptance, kindness, and flexibility. My time at Safe Space helped me bridge the "discomfort" gap between myself as a privileged, housed person, and those whose lives and culture were much more rough, with daily challenges just for survival. There but for fortune...
I am proud to be a volunteer with Safe Space. Providing a warm place to sleep in the coldest part of the year to providing a cool place to spend the hottest part of the day in summer, Safe Space comes to where people are and recognizes their most basic needs. I get to take water, sandwiches and sanitary wipes to people without access to running water all year round. We take ice in the heat of summer and socks and blankets in the cold. Our executive director helps people move into better circumstances when and where they can be found. For feet on the ground, Safe Space is always there, always caring, always providing.
I have worked as a volunteer with Safe Space for several years. I have been impressed with their organization, outreach to volunteers, and their compassion. Over the years they have expanded their services to help provide food and shelter during the cold winter months as well as cooling stations during the summer heat.
Safe Space has been providing shelter to the most vulnerable people on the streets of Chico for many years now. They partner with local churches to help people have a dry warm place to stay in the coldest months of the winter and operate a cooling center during the hottest days of summer which can top 110 degrees in Chico! The people they help are not eligible for help at other shelters in town due to various reasons and Safe Space fills that gap!
For many years, Safe Space has worked with local churches to provide a safe and compassionate environment to shelter some of Chico's most vulnerable people from our cold and wet winter weather. Dedicated volunteers welcome overnight guests (and their pets) with a hearty evening dinner, simple breakfast, clean bedding, warm new socks, minor medical advice, even musical entertainment. This year they have extended their care with a cooling center to shelter against our brutal 100+ degree summer temperatures. Without these essential services, more people would be left to suffer in the cold and heat. I have been proud to volunteer and support Safe Space and am grateful for those who organize these important Safe Space services.
This is an exceptionally scrappy, resilient, and very determined nonprofit working tirelessly to save lives of the most vulnerable people in and around Butte County. With notable grassroots origins, the impact Safe Space Winter Shelter has had in providing safety to those who have no other options is unparalleled in their drive to make a difference. I am proud to be affiliated with an organization that promotes awareness about harm reduction, and centers the very real needs of this medically fragile community. From the top down, Safe Space is lead by compassion at a time when there are simply not enough resources to go around. Some of the most memorable faces of Chico exist on the streets, and Safe Space is doing everything possible to ensure that they have shelter during the most extreme weather patterns. Just last summer, they launched the Cooling Center, the winter shelter's more temperate counterpart, and despite other challenges--COVID chief among them--the impact they have sustained can be measured by fewer guests succumbing to the elements. Safe Space reminds us that the individuals on the street are as precious and valuable as our own families. While I detest that such an organization is necessary in the first place, I am tremendously proud and grateful that there are enough members of the community willing to work together for such an excellent cause.