HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Safe Spaces for Youth has officially launched on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island as a pilot project along with the nationally recognized Safe Place program.
Organizations on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island will display yellow and black diamond-shaped signs to signify their participation in the launch of the Safe Spaces for Youth, which aims to offer immediate assistance and safety to young people in crisis.
Nationwide, more than 22,000 businesses and organizations participate in the Safe Place program by displaying the distinctive yellow and black signs.
According to the Department of Human Services, more than 1.5 million teens run away from home annually, highlighting the need for such support.
DHS encourages local businesses to join the initiative by becoming Safe Place sites.
For more information on how to become a Safe Place site, contact:
O’ahu: Phillip Humphrey at phumphrey@halekipa.org or (808) 999-7233.
Hawaiʻi Island: Henry Aina Jr. at henry.aina.jr@usw.salvationarmy.org or (808) 959-5855.