Safe Place

If you're in trouble or need help, text SAFE and your current location (address/city/state) to 44357

TXT 4 HELP is a nationwide service offered by National Safe Place to help teens connect to the closest location where they can get immediate help and safety.

Here is how it works:

If you're in a crisis, text the word SAFE and your current location (address/city/state) to 44357.

We'll text you back the address of the nearest Safe Place site and contact number for the local youth shelter. Within that same message you'll receive a prompt that says, "reply with 2CHAT for more help." Once you reply with 2CHAT, you'll be connected with a professional for more help.

Project Safe Place was developed, designating businesses and community buildings as locations where youth could easily access help. Its' success has prompted the implementation of this youth shelter outreach program in 714 communities throughout the United States.

All 30 Tops Markets in Erie County, as well as every NFTA bus, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the GLYS Drop-in Center are Safe Place sites in Erie County. To get help, a youth must go to one of these sites and state they need a "Safe Place". The Safe Place site will link the individual in crisis to Compass House where trained counselors will assist each young person to determine the best course of action. Our programs are designed to provide shelter and support to youth who are runaways, homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless through our Emergency Shelter and our Resource Center.

Any youth under the age of 18 in Erie County who feels they need a Safe Place to get help with a problem- i.e their current living situation, or other crises in their life that might lead them to run away, or become homeless- can benefit from Safe Place.

Safe Place services are available to provide immediate access to shelter and services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.