Nevada County, like many others statewide, is dealing with a critical and fast-growing problem – an increasing number of children and young adults are experiencing homelessness.
Couch surfing. Living in cars. Or even sleeping on the streets.
It’s a hard-to-connect with population and an often-overlooked issue.
Bright Futures for Youth established the SAFE (Stability, Access, Foundation, Empowerment) program in 2019, with a commitment to connect with and help youth experiencing housing instability – and put an end to chronic homelessness.
SAFE (Stability, Access, Foundation, Empowerment) has been a huge success.
The SAFE program has assisted more than 100 children and young adults (26 years old and younger) during the past three years. And another five or so youth reach out to the SAFE program every week.
In order to be more effective, SAFE established the SAFE Youth Drop-in Navigation Center in summer 2022. The Drop-in Center gives children and young adults experiencing homelessness access to much-needed services in a safe and supervised environment, providing everything from clothing and grab-and-go food to ensuring they have health care and counseling.
SAFE Youth Drop-in Navigation Center 200 Litton Drive, Grass Valley Hours 1-5 pm Mon., Wed., Thurs. 11 am-3 pm Tues. Youth can come to the Drop-in Center to get more information about SAFE and get food, clothing, hygiene supplies, showers and more.
SAFE program case managers also make sure youth who are experiencing homelessness have access to local and/or state funding, such as CalFresh or Medi-Cal, and know what resources are available to them.
But we cannot do this alone. Our fast-growing program has many needs, and we greatly appreciate the support from the community, from individuals to small-business owners.
Together, we are working hard to make the next generation the best generation – and end youth homelessness in Nevada County.
SAFE helps with homelessness in Nevada County by providing:
- Basic needs, such as food, clothing, housing, showers
- Education and training, including transitioning to college and/or trade school
- Physical health and mental wellness counseling
- Training to develop the necessary skills to live independently
Make a Referral
Please note: The best way to start receiving services, information and help with basic needs is to visit the Drop-in Center. If you can’t make it during those hours, please fill out the Make a Referral to SAFE form below.
If you are a youth-serving professional or youth experiencing homelessness, please click here to fill out our referral form.