Safe Harbor of Greater West Chester
| Last updated on June 18, 2007 |
Safe Harbor of Greater West Chester is a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to provide shelter, food, friendship, counseling and referral opportunities to the men and women of Chester County who have slipped through public and personal support systems and fallen into the homeless culture of our city streets.
Description:
Programs have been implemented to assist the residents with employment skills training, counseling opportunities, and suggestions for appropriate referral drug and alcohol problems. We are functioning at maximum capacity almost each night.
The lunch program is in operation each weekday between 11:30am and 12:30pm. The evening meal program functions as it always has -- with groups and individuals cooking the meal and bringing it to the shelter. A Sunday morning hot breakfast is prepared and served by volunteers.
Safe Harbor's objective is to evolve into a multipurpose organization that doesn't just feed the homeless and provide sleeping quarters, but seeks to identify their problems and help them move back into some type of independent living situation. Our goal is to help the residents set short-term, achievable goals for themselves, and encourage self-reliance and a sense of self-worth. We are continuing to collaborate with other human service agencies in Chester County to assist the residents with skill-building and job training.
Safe Harbor seeks to bring awareness to the community about the homeless issues and to operate the shelter in a respectable manner. We welcome individuals, groups, churches, government officials and corporations to join with us in our mission to help the homeless.
History:
Responding to a request from the County Commissioners in November of 1992, individuals and representatives from local churches and agencies came together to form a task force to assess the needs of the homeless population in Chester County. In December of that year, Safe Harbor opened its doors to the homeless for the first time, relying on the generosity of many volunteers and utilizing facilities offered by local churches, a government building, the Salvation Army and West Chester University. For the past three winters, Safe Harbor has provided shelter, meals, friendship and support for many who otherwise have little or no resources to fall back on.
Safe Harbor opened the doors to the permanent shelter at 20 North Matlack Street on December 22, 1995 -- just in time for the blizzard in early January of 1996!
Contact people:
Office fax number: (484) 631-0105
Address:
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20 North Matlack Street
West Chester, PA 19380
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.safeharborofgwc.org
Directions:
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From 202 South/King of Prussia:
Take the Paoli Pike exit off Rt. 202 South and turn right at the end of the exit ramp onto Paoli Pike, which will become Gay Street (one-way into West Chester). Get in the left traffic lane. Go straight through the stoplight at Adams Street (WC Municipal Building/Police Station is on the near right corner), and turn left at the next stoplight onto North Matlack Street (Meinike Muffler is on the near right corner). Safe Harbor is on your right (one-story, off-white building).
From 202 North/Wilmington:
Take Rt 202 North towards West Chester; where 202 bears right (at the Holiday Inn), keep straight on High Street/West Chester and go past West Chester University into town. Turn right at the stoplight onto Market Street (which is one-way), and turn left at the second stoplight onto North Matlack Street. Safe Harbor is on your left.
From Exton Area:
Take Rt 100 South West Chester (Rt 100 becomes High Street), and turn left at the stoplight onto Market Street (which is one-way). Turn left at the second stoplight onto North Matlack Street. Safe Harbor is on your left.
Parking is very limited near the shelter during the day. You can pull in front of the shelter and go in to ask a staff member for parking suggestions.
Nearest Bus Stop: 92: Gay and Matlack Streets, 1 minute walk
For maps or information, please see http://www.septa.com/ |
Miscellaneous Information
| Are court referrals welcomed? |
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No
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