Founded in 2011 by a small but determined volunteer collective in Venice, California, Safe Place for Youth (SPY) began with simple, human acts of care. Volunteers drove through the streets offering food, clothing, hygiene supplies, and, just as importantly, kindness. These early moments of connection laid the groundwork for a community built on trust and dignity. From the beginning, SPY’s mission was clear: to create a place where young people experiencing homelessness could find safety, respect, and a path forward.
That mission comes to life the moment youth step inside SPY’s Drop-in Center. Located in the center of Venice, here, young people step into a truly welcoming, non-judgmental space where they can breathe, reset, and be themselves. They might be working on a job application, joining an art class, connecting with peers, or simply sharing a conversation with a staff member who knows them by name.
“The goal of our program is to provide critical resources and empower young people to take control of their lives,” says SPY Chief Executive Officer Erika Hartman. Guided by trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and positive youth development, SPY helps youth imagine a future shaped, not by survival, but by possibility.
This atmosphere of possibility matters deeply, because many of the young people who arrive at SPY have faced profound hardship, including family instability, foster care transitions, and the grief of losing support too early. Yet even in the face of these challenges, what stands out most is their resilience. Building on that resilience, SPY offers creative programs, health and wellness support, educational resources, and, most importantly, consistent adult connections. By listening first and shaping programs around youth voices, SPY ensures no young person navigates homelessness alone.
Safe Place for Youth: Supportive Services for Unhoused Youth | ORG in Action
Serving youth ages 12 to 24, SPY creates low-barrier access to essentials like meals, laundry, and showers, no questions asked, so young people can feel safe and supported from day one. As trust builds, SPY connects youth to integrated, wraparound programming that meets each person where they are, including healing arts, time in nature, peer community, and case management. Their model is rooted in relationship-building and a belief that every young person deserves care, opportunity, and a place to thrive.
The support continues beyond the center’s walls. The same spirit of care that shaped SPY’s beginnings now fuels their robust outreach program. Five days a week, outreach workers travel through West Los Angeles along sidewalks, near encampments, and through the quieter corners of the community to meet young people where they are. “Outreach workers do not just provide snacks or hygiene kits; they build relationships,” says Outreach Supervisor Martin Pimmel. For many youth, these first conversations become the doorway to safety, stability, and long-term support.
As trust grows, SPY works with community partners, volunteers, and case workers to meet each young person’s unique needs. This collaboration is essential. “Community is everything,” says Eryn Scott, Senior Director of Community Programs. “We are not just serving young people. We are building genuine community because that is what keeps people connected and off the streets.” Through this interconnected network of care, SPY creates not only temporary relief but pathways to sustained well-being.
This work is urgently needed. On any given night, roughly 3,000 young people in Los Angeles experience homelessness. SPY refuses to accept this as inevitable. Their team believes deeply that solving youth homelessness is not only possible but critical to interrupting the wider cycle of homelessness in Los Angeles. “When you get people connected and make sure they are getting the services they need, you can end the cycle of homelessness starting with youth,” Scott emphasizes.
Young people experiencing homelessness are not problems to fix. They are humans deserving dignity, opportunity, and joy. With this simple, yet transformative belief, SPY walks beside them, celebrates their milestones, and fights for a future where every young person has the chance to thrive. Fueled by passion, compassion, and an unwavering belief in youth potential, SPY continues building a community where healing is possible and hope can take root.
To learn more about Safe Place for Youth’s mission and impact, visit safeplaceforyouth.org.