A place of hope, healing and justice: One Safe Place opens doors in National City

By Debbie Sklar 

For too long, victims of abuse in South San Diego County had to travel across the region to piece together the help they needed—visiting different offices for counseling, legal assistance, medical exams, and other critical services. That fragmented system is now changing with the opening of One Safe Place: the South Bay Family Justice Center in National City.

The center, which officially opened its doors on Oct. 20, is the second location in San Diego County under the umbrella of the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, joining the original center in San Marcos. Both are designed as one-stop resource hubs, providing survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, elder abuse, child abuse, and other crimes with coordinated, no-cost services under one roof.

Claudia Grasso, executive director of One Safe Place, describes the centers as the realization of a long-held vision by San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan.

“Victims have told us repeatedly how exhausting it is to travel all over the county to get help. Our goal is to make the process as simple and supportive as possible so that people can focus on healing,” Grasso said.

At One Safe Place South, visitors can access a wide range of services without appointments, paperwork, or police reports. Victim advocates conduct safety planning and need assessments, and each survivor—referred to as a “member”—is paired with a case manager who guides them through the center’s resources. From therapy and legal aid to emergency housing, food, clothing, job support, and even help care for pets, the center brings dozens of community services into a single, welcoming environment.

“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,” said DA Stephan. “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.”

Partnerships are key to making this model work. The South Bay center hosts more than 50 partner organizations, including Rady Children’s and Palomar Hospitals’ nationally accredited child advocacy centers. These partners provide everything from forensic exams and child interviews to volunteer attorney services for restraining orders. “We’re able to offer support that addresses every aspect of a survivor’s experience—safety, emotional care, legal protection, and basic needs—all in one place,” Grasso said.

Accessibility is another priority. Many staff members are bilingual, and the centers aim to serve communities throughout the county, with plans to expand into East County. By co-locating services, the centers reduce the number of times survivors must retell their stories and cut down on travel, making support more immediate and effective.

The impact of this approach is already measurable. Since opening in 2022, One Safe Place North has served more than 9,000 people, provided over 6,000 legal services, conducted nearly 4,000 therapy sessions, and assisted more than 3,000 children affected by violence. “A ‘win’ is every person who walks in and leaves feeling like they have a path forward,” Grasso said.

Community leaders see the new center as a vital lifeline. San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre said, “For too long, South County residents in crisis had to travel far to access critical services. This center changes that. Survivors here now have access to the care, compassion, and justice they deserve. DA Stephan emphasized that the Family Justice Center model is designed to protect victims, prevent further trauma, and help break cycles of violence in families and communities.

For those who have experienced abuse, the center is more than just a place to get help; it’s a place to regain hope. Domestic violence survivor Brenda M. shared her experience: “I walked in feeling lost but left feeling like I could breathe again. Every time I visit, I feel like I’m moving forward and that I have the chance to start over.”

One Safe Place South is located at 401 Mile of Cars Way in National City and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with one Saturday each month from 8 a.m. to noon. Anyone seeking support can call 888-440-HOPE or email gethope@OSPsandiegocounty.gov, or visit www.OSPSanDiegoCounty.gov

With the South Bay center now open, survivors in South County no longer have to navigate a fragmented system. Instead, they have a single place that combines compassion, resources, and expertise—a place to heal, regain strength, and begin moving forward with their lives.

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A place of hope, healing and justice: One Safe Place opens doors in National City