Samaritan House has provided beds to the homeless since 1987. Safe Harbor Shelter was created to help fill the gap in short term emergency housing options available in San Mateo County. Affordable housing is scarce in the San Francisco Bay area, and many low-income residents find themselves being priced out of their homes and communities. In 2000, San Mateo County conducted a survey that found 4,600 County residents had spent some time outside of a stable living situation. Over the course of a year, Safe Harbor Shelter helps to stabilize over 400 homeless County adults.

Safe Harbor Shelter Clients
Safe Harbor Shelter is a 90 bed emergency homeless shelter located in South San Francisco. Homeless individuals 18 years and older and from San Mateo County are permitted to enter the shelter on a first-come, first-served basis. The shelter is operated in collaboration with the County of San Mateo Human Services Agency.

Safe Harbor Goals
The primary mission of Safe Harbor is to provide the homeless with shelter, warmth, sustenance, and healthcare. After these basic human needs have been met and shelter clients have been stabilized, Safe Harbor endeavors to help clients raise their level of self-sufficiency and transition to a more stable housing situation.

To achieve these goals, Safe Harbor offers substance abuse counseling, employment counseling, and provides job search assistance. Safe Harbor also employs Case Workers who help clients design a personal strategy to overcome homelessness. Many shelter clients find employment while staying at the shelter thanks to these services. Sam Trans, the County bus service, generously donates bus passes to Safe Harbor clients each day. These bus passes allow Safe Harbor clients to reach their place of work or to visit potential employers.