(Exact Location Undisclosed)

DC SAFE began as a project of the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 1997 with just a few Advocates providing court-based services. In 2006, the organization incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization and immediately began developing its robust crisis intervention services, which are now the foundation of its work with survivors.

The name, DC SAFE, stands for Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment, which demonstrates the organization’s commitment to survivor-defined advocacy, in which we recognize that survivors are the experts in their lives and should be empowered to make their own decisions. DC SAFE is proud to be a leader in this service model, providing support for empowerment for thousands of survivors each year.

SAFE Space is the only shelter in the District of Columbia that can make 24/7 immediate placements for survivors and families within an hour of a domestic violence incident. The organization began the program in 2011 to meet a need for dignified crisis housing that could help survivors obtain immediate safety and preserve their existing resources. Before this project, SAFE Space operated out of 10 units inside a condo building in Southeast DC.

Every day, approximately 2,300 people in Washington, DC face the dilemma of abuse at home or life on the streets. The NMTC-financed expansion of SAFE Space ensures that these individuals have access to secure housing, support services, and other necessities. With 30 apartment-style units, the new facility triples current capacity, housing an estimated 750 survivors and families each year. The new building also offers communal space for our local shelter residents, play areas for children, as well as commercial space for DC SAFE’s admin offices and nonprofit partners, who will offer on-site support services like counseling and child-care. The new facility is located in Northeast DC and offers greater proximity to the courthouse, public transportation, and other community services.