Help is always within reach

Community Partnership
Community Report

Capital Area Multimodal Gateway with Safe Place signs on the building

Youth in crisis can access support anytime using TXT 4 HELP, a service offered through Safe Place® program, to find the nearest Safe Place site. All CATA vehicles, the CATA Transportation Center (CTC) and the Capital Area Multimodal Gateway are designated Safe Place locations. When CATA’s facilities are closed support is also available through the 24‑hour crisis hotline for Gateway Youth Housing Services, operated by Child and Family Charities.

Get help by text (under age 18):

Text “SAFE” and your location* to 4HELP (44357), then reply “2Chat” to connect with a licensed mental health professional. Provide as many location details as possible (street address, city, state).

Get help by phone (ages 12 through 24):

Call the 24‑hour crisis hotline for Gateway Youth Housing Services at 1‑877‑833‑3689.

If you’re in immediate danger, call 911.

For more information, visit the Safe Place webpage.

Headshot and quote from Mandi Woodward, Youth and Family Drop-In and Education Center Coordinator at Child and Family Charities. She says "[Public] Transportation is so valuable. We rely on public transportation to help us get our kids where they need to go." Headshot and quote from Antonio Botello III, Director of Youth and Family Support Services at Child and Family Charities. He says "The partnership between CATA's Safe Place and Child and Family Charities has been vital for us to get services out to youth who otherwise wouldn't have the means to get to our drop-in center" Headshot and quote from Andrea Calabrese, Chief Operations officer at Child and Family Charities. She says "We've worked with CATA for a long time and this relationship is so important to our clients. Having the bus [stop] right there is awesome".