A new resource center offering a variety of services for crime victims opened its doors in National City Friday.
One Safe Place: the South Bay Family Justice Center provides no-cost services for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, hate crimes, elder abuse and other crimes.
Among the services offered at One Safe Place are forensic sexual assault examinations, child forensic interviews, volunteer attorney support for restraining orders, crisis intervention and safety planning for victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and elder abuse.
The center is the second One Safe Place location after the initial center opened in San Marcos in 2022. Officials say the South Bay location will help crime victims living in South San Diego County receive the services they need without needing to cross the county.
“The opening of One Safe Place in National City is an important step forward for our South County families,” said San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre. “For too long, South County residents in crisis had to travel far from home to access critical victim services. This changes that. This center ensures that survivors who live in South San Diego have access to the care, compassion, and the justice they deserve.”
One Safe Place is led by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with dozens of organizations. Staff at both One Safe Place locations include victim advocates, nurses, medical professionals, counselors, attorneys, housing navigators, childcare professionals, work-readiness coaches, law enforcement and more.
The D.A.’s Office said since its opening, the North County location has served over 9,000 people — primarily domestic violence victims — and has provided legal services for 5,500 people, more than 900 forensic interviews and over 700 forensic medical examinations for assault victims.
“This dream project to regionalize the evidence-based Family Justice Center model to protect crime victims, safeguard children and seniors from harm, prevent homelessness driven by domestic violence and human trafficking, and dismantle generational cycles of trauma that lead to incarceration and victimization has now become a reality for our South County region,” San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement. “We want the community to know that the doors are now open so they can take advantage of this state-of-the-art center focused on the trifecta of hope, healing and justice.”
One Safe Place in National City is located at 401 Mile of Cars Way and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the second Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to noon.
Either location can be reached by emailing gethope@OSPsandiegocounty.gov or calling 888-440-HOPE (4673).
–City News Service
