SafeHouse of the Desert

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Thousand Palms, CA
SafeHouse of the Desert

SafeHouse of the Desert is Coachella Valley's only 24/7 shelter for youth in crisis. Finally, a sense of relief...of hope.

We are a non-profit helping runaways, throwaways, and victims of human trafficking. Teens who don’t know where else to go are always welcome at our shelters—all they have to do is show up. Parents who are interested in early intervention are encouraged to call us to set up a screening for their child. At the screening, they meet with a Marriage and Family Therapist who tells them more about what they can expect to receive from our holistic approach and listens to the struggles they’re having.

06/12/2026

A huge thank you to Julian and the incredible team from Enterprise Mobility for spending the day volunteering with Operation SafeHouse!

The team worked alongside our Street Outreach Program, helping organize supplies and resources that allow us to better serve youth experiencing homelessness and crisis throughout Riverside County. Their hard work made a meaningful impact and will help our outreach staff respond more efficiently to the needs of vulnerable youth.

Enterprise Mobility's support goes beyond volunteering. Through their ongoing financial contributions, they help provide safe shelter, supportive services, and hope to youth who need it most.

We are grateful for community partners like Enterprise Mobility who continue to invest their time, talents, and resources to make a difference in the lives of the young people we serve. Thank you for helping us create brighter futures!

06/10/2026

Thirty years of compassion, healing, and showing up for others with unwavering heart 💙

Today we had the joy of surprising Catherine Behnke, LMFT as we celebrated her 30th anniversary in the field of mental health. We gathered for a special lunch and a few heartfelt gifts, but really, there are no gifts big enough to match what she’s given to so many over the years.

Catherine has been a steady source of care, wisdom, and calm for countless youth and families. Her work isn’t just a profession, it’s a lifelong commitment to walking alongside people through some of their hardest moments and helping them find hope again.

Thirty years in, and she still leads with the same warmth, dedication, and quiet strength that make her truly one of a kind. We are so grateful for her, so proud of her, and so lucky to have her on our team.

Please join us in celebrating Catherine Behnke, LMFT
30 years of changing lives and still going strong! 💐

06/04/2026

Please join us in congratulating Rainbow Marler, Operation SafeHouse's Street Outreach Director, on her appointment as a Commissioner with Riverside County's Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission!

Every day, Rainbow works alongside youth facing homelessness, family conflict, and other challenges, helping them find safety, support, and hope. Her passion for youth advocacy and commitment to positive outcomes make her an outstanding addition to the Commission.

We know she will bring an important perspective to efforts that protect the rights, well-being, and futures of young people throughout Riverside County.

Congratulations, Rainbow! We are incredibly proud of you and grateful for all you do for our youth and community. 💙

05/27/2026

At SafeHouse, mental health support is woven into every program we provide. Through counseling services offered across our shelter, transitional living, street outreach, and community-based programs, our dedicated team provides more than 5,000 hours of counseling each year to youth navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use, and other mental health challenges.

Support can take many forms: listening without judgment, offering encouragement, helping someone access resources, or simply being present. Every act of understanding can make a meaningful difference.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we encourage our community to learn more, speak openly, and support one another, because mental health matters, and no one should struggle alone.

05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day, all of us at SafeHouse pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

We are grateful for the freedoms their courage has secured and for the opportunity to serve our community each day.

This holiday weekend, we wish everyone a safe and peaceful Memorial Day as we reflect, remember, and spend time with those we hold dear.

05/22/2026

At SafeHouse of the Desert, our Street Outreach team is out in the community every day, connecting with youth in schools and throughout the Coachella Valley to ensure they know help is available when they need it most. Whether providing support, resources, crisis intervention, or a pathway to counseling, our team is committed to meeting young people where they are.

Mental health support remains at the heart of our work. Through our outreach services, Harrison House Transitional Living Program, and counseling programs, we provide critical care and connection for youth facing trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use, and other mental health challenges.

Through partnerships with SunLine Transit Agency’s mobile Safe Place locations and local McDonald’s Safe Place partners, youth in crisis can quickly access help and connect with our team. When a young person reaches out, SafeHouse of the Desert is here to respond with compassion, support, and hope.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we want our community to know: support is here, help is available, and no young person has to face their challenges alone.

05/16/2026

We are incredibly grateful to the thoughtful young ladies at Desert Hot Springs High School for organizing a hygiene drive in support of the youth at SafeHouse. Their compassion, generosity, and willingness to take action to help others is truly inspiring. Essential hygiene items may seem simple, but for the young people we serve, they provide dignity, comfort, and a sense of being cared for during difficult times. Knowing that other young people in their community are thinking of them and wanting to help means more than words can express. Their kindness has made a meaningful difference, and we are deeply thankful for their hard work and generous hearts.

05/12/2026

Another day, another chance for our youth to get creative. 🎨🌿

These colorful spirit sticks gave our youth the opportunity to express themselves, tap into their creativity, and create something uniquely their own.

Art activities like this can be a fun and meaningful way to build confidence, encourage reflection, and simply enjoy the moment.

Every piece tells its own story and we love seeing what our youth create. 💙✨

05/08/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month 💚

At Operation SafeHouse, we know that mental health support can change and save lives. Many people may not realize that we provide four community-based mental health programs throughout Riverside County, reaching more than 3,000 youth each year.

Through our Cup of Happy, Stress and Your Mood, Seeking Safety, and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) programs, we provide outreach, individual counseling, and group counseling to help youth navigate challenges such as trauma, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety.

Every young person deserves support, safety, and hope. This month and every month, we remain committed to helping youth heal, grow, and thrive. 💚

05/07/2026

We are so grateful to Birgit Phillips for representing SafeHouse of the Desert at the JMOGD luncheon, hosted through the Jewish Federation and extended by Karen’s kind invitation.

Through this gathering, SafeHouse received generous in-kind donations that will directly support the youth we serve in our shelter and outreach programs. While we didn’t receive a detailed inventory list, we know these items will be deeply appreciated and put to meaningful use by young people who often arrive with very little.

Community partnerships like this remind us how powerful it is when people come together to support youth in crisis. Every contribution, large or small, helps provide comfort, dignity, and care to the young people walking through our doors.

Thank you to everyone involved for thinking of SafeHouse and our youth.

Address

72710 E Lynn Street
Thousand Palms, CA
92276

Telephone

+17603433211

Website

http://safehouseofthedesert.org/

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