For over 40 years, the Advocates of Lake County has walked alongside survivors in some of the hardest moments of their lives. Since 2012, ALC’s Safehouse has been a refuge — a warm, safe place for individuals and families escaping violence, where doors and hearts were open no matter the hour. This work has always been about people, not just buildings, and it’s in that spirit that we are stepping into this new chapter.
As noted in our Sept. 26, 2025, press release, ALC has decided to sell our Safehouse property. It’s a decision that followed countless internal and external conversations, one that is truly bittersweet. While it may look like the end of an era, what this move truly represents is a new way to meet survivors’ needs — one that’s flexible, personal, and rooted in dignity.
Survivors deserve more than just one option for safety. By shifting from a single, fixed-location Safehouse to a broader housing support model, we’ll be able to respond to each person’s unique situation. This isn’t an untested idea—far from it. Advocacy agencies around the country, including in neighboring Chaffee and Summit counties, already successfully operate without a dedicated safehouse. ALC itself operated without one for our first 30 years!
To be clear: ALC’s services aren’t going away. We’re committed to being there for survivors every step of the way. Through our Stream of Hope and Bridge programs, we’ll continue to offer crisis response, housing assistance, advocacy, and long-term support. Survivors will still have someone to call 24/7, someone to walk with them and a path toward safety and stability — now with more choices.
Before the Safehouse officially goes on the market, we’re hosting a community yard sale Oct. 27-30 to share household items and furniture with our neighbors. We’re inviting you to take what you need and pay what you can. Proceeds will support ALC and survivor services. Find more details on our website (advocatesoflakecounty.org) and facebook.com/AdvocatesOfLakeCounty.
As we prep for our name-your-own-price yard sale, we’re also collaborating with community-based organizations like Full Circle and Lake County School District to help us get our surplus, including kids’ winter coats, diapers and baby supplies, directly into the hands of people who need these resources as fast as possible.
While this transition means letting go of a building, it also means opening new doors. By evolving ALC, we ensure that every survivor in Lake County has the chance to rebuild their life on their own terms. We also reflect and honor the role the Safehouse has played in our community’s story and look ahead to what comes next. Supporting survivors doesn’t just happen in one building. It’s something we do together as a community.
Thank you to everyone who has supported ALC through the years, and in the years to come. Your compassion makes this work possible. We are especially grateful to Climax and Freeport McMoRan for their full support of this transition and their continued partnership to create safety for survivors in Lake County.
We’re excited to step forward, side by side with you, into this new chapter.
Advocates of Lake County
Tim Best, Client Services Director & Co-Executive Director
Valerie D’Angiolini Landis, Advancement and Impact Director & Co-Executive Director
Kristen King, Operations Director & Co-Executive Director