Safe House

The Safe House’s primary goal is to provide children and youth with the opportunity to experience an alternate lifestyle to the streets in a safe and encouraging environment.

Established in 1998, the Safe House provides temporary, emergency shelter for children and youth ages 9-16 years who are at risk of being sexually abused and/or exploited on the street. The Safe House is the emergency entry point for support services which provides counseling and referrals to agencies within STC Urban and the city of Saskatoon. The Safe House is managed through STC Urban First Nations Services Inc.

 

The Safe house offers a safe and nurturing environment where qualified staff assists youth with their basic needs, assessment, advocacy and stabilization. Located in an inner city neighborhood, this residential facility is able to house five male and female youth or children from one hour to a maximum of thirty days. The Safe House runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the year, and is open to all youth who are in need of support and services any time of the day or night.

During their stay at the Safe House, residents have an opportunity to adjust to normal sleeping and eating patterns, and to participate in programs aimed to help build their self-esteem and self-worth in order to reduce their risk for sexual exploitation. The Safe House provides other services including educational support, counseling, youth programming and referrals to other agencies in the city. Youth are encouraged to participate in recreational activities outside of the Safe House as well as enrolling in programming for their self development.

 

The Safe House acts as an entry point for youth to access other programs and services including White Buffalo Youth Lodge, treatment programs, Community Resources. In addition to formal services, the Safe House provides children and youth with a safe place to drop in to eat, shower, get advice, use the phone, do laundry, and access other personal services. The Safe House also provides links to cultural activities (feasts, round dances, Pow Wows) and access to Old People (Elders) for support or guidance and advice as needed or requested.

 

Children and youth may access Safe House services through either self-referral or referrals from other agencies including EGADZ, police, social workers, teachers, Mobile Crisis, judges, counselors and other social service agencies and workers. As well, these community resources are utilized during the development of individual case management plans to assist in the continuing venture of meeting the needs of the clients both present and future. More importantly, the Safe House encourages children and youth to re-establish links to family or extended family or referrals to appropriate foster placement alternatives. 

 

For general information click HERE.