The care described in this story is made possible by the entire Safe House team, pictured above.
Back Row, left to right: Anjelica Chickara, Jeff Joseph, Alice Dauway, Celeste Little, Susan Victor, Gary Copeland, Mary Karanik, Angela Cartagena, Evangela “Van” Williams
Middle Row, left to right: Maireny Lopez, Nancy Washington, Koeberle Bull, Cesia Guadron, Nicole Wohlgemuth, Crystal Guerard
Front Row, left to right: Myriame Guervil, Altagracia Sierra, Nathalie S. Nelson, Melissa McCants
When someone arrives at the Safe House at Younity (formerly Womanspace), they may be exhausted, frightened, and unsure of what comes next. The first thing they need may not be a plan or a list of questions. They may simply need time to pause, gather their thoughts, and breathe.
That understanding shapes how Safe House Director Melissa McCants and her team approach every resident. Each person arrives with different experiences, needs, and goals, so the response cannot be one-size-fits-all.
“They need safety and to be heard,” Melissa said. While the Safe House has guidelines, she emphasized that the experience remains survivor-driven. Support begins with listening and, when someone is ready, helping them consider what they need and what comes next.
For nearly 50 years, Younity has continued to learn from the people it serves. As client needs have changed, the Safe House has evolved with them, while remaining rooted in the same commitment to safety, dignity, and compassionate support.
That client-centered approach is taking shape in new ways throughout the Safe House. The area where donated clothing and everyday essentials are organized and selected is being transformed into a more welcoming, accessible space. Staff are reducing unnecessary paperwork and using secure digital systems where appropriate. Melissa is also building new connections with community resources while exploring employment-readiness and self-care opportunities for residents.
She is paying equal attention to the staff culture within the house. In work that can be emotionally demanding, communication, trust, and mutual support affect not only employees, but the environment residents experience each day.
These changes are not a departure from the Safe House’s past. They are the latest examples of how Younity continues to listen, learn and shape its response around the people it serves.
Building on a Strong Foundation
The work underway today is part of a long history of learning, adapting and showing up.
“No matter what’s happening, no matter how it’s evolving, the staff from then and now continue to show up,” said Crystal Guerard, Safe House Program Coordinator, who began at Younity as an intern nearly 20 years ago. The goal, she explained, is for changes behind the scenes never to interrupt the care clients and hotline callers receive. “The services go on.”
That continuity is especially important in a program that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no pause between one chapter and the next. Staff members adjust schedules, support one another, and make decisions in real time to ensure that someone is always there to answer the hotline, welcome a family, or help a resident take the next step.
“It takes a special person to work here,” Crystal said. “It’s not just a job. You have to want to do this.”
Over the years, the Safe House has become less rigid about how quickly someone must move forward. Rather than focusing on a fixed exit date, staff work with each resident toward what Crystal calls their “next safe place.”
That does not mean every challenge is resolved before someone leaves. It means residents have support as they identify their goals, understand their options, and begin preparing for the next chapter with greater safety, stability, and independence. The connection does not necessarily end when someone leaves the Safe House. Former residents can continue to reach out to Younity for support and available resources as new needs arise.
After living in an environment shaped by power and control, even ordinary choices can carry new meaning. Crystal has watched children enter the Safe House, see their room, and excitedly choose a bunk. They begin to understand that they can move freely without fear.
For residents who may have spent years anticipating another person’s reactions, that sense of safety can bring a rare moment of release.
“You’re safe to breathe,” Crystal tells them.
Making the Space Meet the Need
Over time, updates throughout the house, including new flooring, fresh paint, a renovated kitchen, a quiet lounge for adults, and dedicated spaces for children, have helped create a more comfortable and welcoming environment for residents.
And now, another part of the Safe House is being transformed.
For nearly 20 years, Altagracia “Alta” Sierra, Safe House Facility Coordinator, has helped ensure that residents have access to clothing, shoes, toiletries, toys, and other everyday essentials. The space is stocked entirely with brand-new items generously donated by members of the community for Younity clients.
The area is now being reorganized into a more welcoming and functional space where staff can easily see what is available and quickly gather items for residents. When a family arrives at the Safe House, Younity provides new clothing, shoes, toiletries, toys, and other everyday essentials. If a needed item or the appropriate size is not available, gift cards help residents purchase what they need.
The redesigned space will make it easier to organize donations, manage available inventory, and ensure that essential items are ready when families arrive. It also reflects the important role the community plays in helping Younity respond to residents with care and practical support.
That same attentiveness shapes the everyday care Alta provides. She shops for groceries twice each week and asks new residents about the foods their families normally eat. For someone arriving in an unfamiliar place, hearing a familiar language or finding familiar food can provide an immediate sense of comfort.
“Times change. Needs change in the community,” Alta said. Meeting those needs requires the Safe House to continue adapting its spaces, resources, and day-to-day support.
Technology is changing, too. The Safe House is gradually reducing its reliance on paper and using secure digital systems where appropriate. This helps staff work more efficiently while strengthening the careful handling and confidentiality of client information.
Each change, whether large or small, supports the same goal: helping residents receive the care, resources, and everyday essentials they need while staying at the Safe House.
The First Voice Someone Hears
The Safe House’s work often begins with a phone call. Safe House staff answer Younity’s 24/7 hotlines, offering support, information, and a listening ear to people in crisis.
Hotline Advocate Maireny Lopez understands how much that first interaction can matter.
“You are the first voice that they hear,” Maireny said. “That does determine whether they want to continue seeking help or not.”
Some callers know exactly what they need. Others are frightened, hesitant, or unable to put their experience into words. Some call and remain silent. Maireny lets them know Younity is there, the hotline is available 24 hours a day, and they can call back whenever they are ready.
She has learned that effective advocacy begins with patience. Every caller’s story is different, and not everyone knows how to ask for the help they need. By listening without judgment, an advocate can help someone feel heard, understand their options, and decide what feels right for them.
Sometimes, that is where the next step begins.
Growing Together
The Safe House will continue to evolve as survivors and the community bring forward different needs. Spaces, systems and programs may change, but the foundation will remain rooted in people caring for one another and working together to provide safety, dignity and choice.
“We really care for one another,” Alta said. For her, that is what has remained constant through every change: the human willingness to be there for someone else when they need you.
For Crystal, that commitment means being someone others can depend on. She values working alongside her colleagues, sharing what she has learned and being ready to help wherever she is needed.
“My work is reflective of my heart,” she said.
As Melissa looks ahead, she sees a Safe House that remains closely connected to the community, open to new ideas and supported by a staff culture rooted in communication and collaboration. The spaces, systems, and programs may continue to change, but the purpose behind them will remain clear: to listen to each person and ask, “What would help you move forward?”
