Safe Place - Louisville

YMCA Safe Place Services is always looking for new ways to engage youth, young adults, and families with our services. The three primary programs through which we accomplish this task are our Shelter House, YNOW Mentoring Program, and Street Outreach.

Shelter House provides free 24-hr, temporary residential shelter to youth, ages 12-17. The focus of Shelter House is to provide mediation and promote communication between youth and their guardians, offering resources to build stronger foundations as individuals and as a family. Youth can access Shelter House through our community business partners, or Safe Place sites, such . Our black and yellow Project Safe Place signs are symbols of security, support, and guidance for youth in crisis, making it easier and safer for youth to reach safety. Project Safe Place is also a nationally replicated program.

The YNOW Mentoring Program is also a nationally recognized program, working with 11-15 year old youth who have an incarcerated parent. The focus of YNOW is to break the cycle of incarceration through mentoring, positive support and personal goal-setting.

The Street Outreach program provides an array of services, including street-level support to homeless youth and young adults, ages 12-22. Services are accessed through our Outreach Team, who canvases the city, looking for opportunities to engage with young people. It is also accessible through our Matt Kubancik Youth Development Center, the only drop-in center in Kentucky, where homeless 16-22 year olds can have basic needs met and find other resources.