Safe Place

Questions and answers about Safe Place

Q. What is a Safe Place?
A. Safe Places are sites set up in public locations where youth in crisis situations can get help immediately. Safe Place is a national organization.

Q. How can I recognize a Safe Place site?
A. Safe Place signs are bright yellow-and-black diamond-shaped signs. They are displayed on all RTA buses and trains.

Q. Who can use Safe Place?
A. Any youth age 17 and younger, in any type of crisis situation.

Q. How much does it cost?
A. It’s FREE for you and FREE for your family.

Q. What happens when I go to a Safe Place site?
A. Tell the bus or train operator that you are there because of the Safe Place sign. They will notify a Road Supervisor or Transit Police Officer, who will meet the bus or train you are on at a nearby location.

Q. Will I have to wait long?
A. Usually, a Supervisor or Officer can get to the bus or train within 15-20 minutes.

Q. What happens when the Supervisor or Officer arrives?
A. They will either transport you to a Safe Place shelter partner, or have a Safe Place volunteer come to meet with you. Our shelter partners have counselors who care about you and want to help.

Q. Do I have to go to the shelter?
A. NO, going to the shelter is voluntary. Once you are there, no one will force you to stay. The decision is always yours.

Q. Will my parents be told that I have gone to the shelter?
A. Yes, we do have to notify your parents, but remember -- the counselors are there to help you work things out.

Q. What are the Safe Place sites in Cleveland?
A. Look for any RTA bus or train, or you can go directly to either of these locations here in the Cleveland area:

Westhaven Youth Shelter
3020 West 104th St.
Cleveland, OH 44111-1840
216-658-4625 (24-hour phone)

Bellefaire Homeless Youth Program
22001 Fairmount Blvd.
Shaker Heights, OH 44118
216-570-8010 (24-hour phone)