Emergency Hotel Stay Program
SafeHouse’s Emergency Hotel Stay Program (EHSP) provides immediate, short-term shelter for women and their children escaping violence. This program offers a private and independent alternative to traditional shelter settings, ensuring that survivors have a safe place to stay while longer-term housing solutions are identified.
Since beginning in 2019, as a part of the Hope Center’s violence prevention for sex workers program, this program has not only served as a critical entry point for survivors in urgent need of safety it has also expanded in scope since that time. In the first six months of 2026 alone, SafeHouse has connected 20 women fleeing violence with emergency hotel stays.
Who This Serves
The EHSP is designed for womxn, including those with children, who are in immediate danger and need a safe and confidential place to stay.
This program is especially important for:
+ Womxn with children who may not be best served in congregate shelter settings
+ Womxn who need immediate placement while longer-term housing is arranged
The How Behind The Help
Most participants enter the program through SafeHouse’s Hope Center, which is often their first point of contact.
+ A client arrives at the Hope Center and is welcomed with refreshments
+ A needs assessment is conducted by trained staff
+ If immediate shelter is needed, a case manager connects the client to a hotel placement
+ SafeHouse case managers coordinate directly with hotel partners to secure a safe stay
+ While in the hotel, clients work with staff to identify and transition into alternative housing
This program is made possible through a public grant funded through the state of California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), which covers the cost of hotel stays. SafeHouse case managers act as the bridge between these resources and safe, immediate hotel placements. Private donations play a vital role by covering additional needs during a survivor’s stay, including transportation, food, clothing, and other essentials.
Safe On Arrival
When Mina first encountered SafeHouse, she was not only fleeing violence and in need of immediate safety, she was doing so while pregnant. Through the Emergency Hotel Stay Program, she was placed in a safe hotel where she could rest and begin to stabilize. She was greeted with something to eat and a welcome basket and in just a few days…
During her stay, she gave birth to her child!
Private donations provided essential supplies for her newborn, including clothing and basic care items. Public grant funding from Cal OES covered the cost of her hotel stay, ensuring she had a safe place to live during this critical time. Afterwards, with the support of SafeHouse staff, Mina was able to locate family and transition to living with them with her child.
This is what is possible when community support and civic leadership come together. A moment of crisis became the beginning of stability for Mina and her child.
The Need
Often, the women we serve face urgent and life-threatening situations that require immediate action. Traditional shelter beds are limited, and not all environments meet the unique needs of every survivor.
The Emergency Hotel Stay Program fills this gap by:
+ Providing immediate access to safe shelter
+ Offering a private and dignified space for recovery
+ Creating a pathway to long-term housing stability
+ Ensuring that no woman or child is turned away in a moment of crisis
This program represents a powerful collaboration between public funding and private generosity, working together to meet urgent needs and create lasting stability.
