Your Gifts Keep Kids SAFE!
Written by Danielle FletcherProtecting Austin’s Most Vulnerable Children
Every night in Austin, children face unimaginable challenges. At SAFE, we believe every child deserves safety, stability, and the chance to heal from trauma. Our comprehensive approach addresses the interconnected cycles of violence that affect young lives—from child abuse and domestic violence to sexual assault and sex trafficking.
The Reality We Face Together
The numbers tell a powerful story about the urgent need in our community:
On average, children make up 37% of SAFE’s waitlist for emergency shelter—that’s about 33 children without a safe place to stay every night. With our waitlist averaging around 88 people total at any given time, 74% of whom are actively experiencing homelessness, the demand for safe housing far exceeds what we can currently provide.
Yet every night, we’re making a difference.
Of the nearly 1,000 people SAFE provides housing and shelter for on average every night, 569 are children who now have a safe place to call home.
This is the difference your gift to SAFE makes every day.
Our Impact Across Four Pillars of Care
SAFE’s mission is to interrupt cycles of violence across four deeply-connected issue areas: child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and sex trafficking. Our comprehensive care model addresses each area through four essential pillars of services that meet children and families wherever they are in their journey to safety and healing.
Pillar 1: Prevention and Education
We believe in the power of prevention. Through our Children’s Services, we support and educate youth living in our shelters, helping them build resilience and life skills.
Our Expect Respect program promotes healthy relationships through counseling, leadership development, and education, leading to significant reductions in instances of violence in schools.
For families navigating both domestic violence and child protection involvement, our SAFE Futures program provides crucial support.
We also ensure that our prevention work reaches all communities through our Deaf SHARE and Disability Services programs.
Pillar 2: Crisis Intervention
When crisis strikes, we respond immediately. Our Kelly White Family Shelter provides emergency housing where families find safety—with an average of 2.34 children per household in our Family Shelter.
Through our CARES program, we serve youth who have experienced sex trafficking, with the average age of children under 18 receiving services being 15 years old.
Our 24/7 SAFEline, legal services, counseling, medical care after a sexual assault*, and Bridge to Safety emergency assistance ensure no child faces crisis alone.
The trauma we address is profound: Out of the 2,220 kids who receive services at SAFE, more than 10% disclosed sexual abuse in the last fiscal year. Our specialized services, including Sexual Assault Services and therapeutic interventions, provide the expert care these children need to begin healing.
Pillar 3: Long-term Support and Healing
Recovery takes time, and we’re committed for the journey. Our Supervised Independent Living program and Youth Housing Navigation services help young people build stable, independent lives.
Through Community Resource Advocacy and Peer Support, we ensure survivors have the tools and community they need to thrive long-term. SAFE’s Permanent Housing program helps families establish lasting stability.
Pillar 4: Social Change
We’re not just responding to violence—we’re working to prevent it. Our Foster & Adopt in Austin program has helped 51 children find safe, loving foster or adoptive home placements.
Through Community Engagement, we train organizations and community groups to recognize and respond to abuse. Our volunteers extend our reach, supporting our anti-violence work throughout Austin.
Your Support Creates Safety
Behind every statistic is a child whose life can be transformed with the right support. When you support SAFE, you’re not just providing shelter—you’re offering hope, healing, and a pathway to a safer future. There are many ways to get involved and give your talents, time, and treasures to support our work at SAFE. Whatever way you give, it makes a difference, one dollar, one hour, one project or one social media share at a time. Thank you for doing this important work with us so we can stop abuse for everyone.
Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and valued. Together, we can make that a reality for more children in our community.
To learn more about how you can support SAFE’s work with children, visit safeaustin.org or call our SAFEline at 512.267.7233.
*Forensic exams are available for all adults and for boys 12 and older or for girls who have had their first menstrual cycle.
