Safer Communities

Founder, Safe Havens For Little People

In the late 1970s, a sweet California girl with long blond hair drops out of high school at age 16, add a taste of the good life, great parties, big name friends, dream house, fast cars, she had it all. Soon, the bubble burst and the downward spiral began, a dabble in drugs, alcohol, then more drugs, heroin, physical abuse, massive addictions, divorce – then she hit bottom, a welfare mom just trying to survive.

“At one point in my life I had it all, successful restaurants, the house on the golf course, the dog, the American Dream,” recalls Karen. “I was so naive. I dropped out of school in the tenth grade. At 19, I met this guy who was in the entertainment business, all of a sudden I was in limousines, backstage at concerts, drugs everywhere. I was just a young girl. Three months down the road I was right up there with them doing the drugs too. I was used. I never thought I had a drug problem.”

“In the early 80s I tried heroin for the first time. I was hooked for 18 months, I was only 20 or 21. In a moment of clarity I needed to stop. I did the impossible, I kicked it, cold turkey, I had violent nightmares for two weeks. I know what addiction is. It steals everything from you. I didn’t want that lifestyle anymore.”

“I’ve also had my share of domestic violence. I had my face beat to a pulp. I had all my ribs kicked in. We went to the hospital and told them we were jumped. They believed us. I also broke my leg fleeing from a boyfriend falling 30 feet off a cliff, from someone I thought I loved. The abuses continued. It was really self-victimization and from what all I’ve gone through, I plan to give all I’ve got to help others escape it.”

In 1998, Karen was working with her father in the family restaurant when she heard the devastating news. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was given only two months to live. After his death, Karen took all she had along with her inheritance she received from her father and started Safe Havens for Little People. Her vision is to give back to women and children in need.

“Safe Havens gives abused women the tools to reenter society and to be self-sufficient. It gives the dignity back to women and their children. It is a year program where we place women back in the workforce through onsite education and training. Welfare to Work is very supportive of our program.”

“We are different and extremely effective because we practice what we teach, self-sufficiency. We teach practical skills and train in everything from restaurant work to computer skills. We also opened a store, Safe Havens Product & Services Shoppe which sells our bottled waters, gourmet sauces, children's clothing, toys, crafts and plants. Also, some of America’s top corporations as well as local businesses are stepping up to form alliances with Safe Havens. The partnering allows us all to work together as a team to help get our local women back into the workforce.”

“The support from our community, our board members and our volunteers have been overwhelming. The program is a major success. Safe Havens is working daily at helping women and children in need, get their lives back on track, one step at a time.”

Resource Information:

Safe Havens For Little People