Saving The Safe Haven House

Hello, my name is Lawrence Williams, and I am the founder of The Safe Haven House, a faith and community-based non-profit organization located in Knoxville, TN. On Tuesday, January 17, 2023, a fatal, multi-car crash occurred on Magnolia Ave. where The Safe Haven house is located. One of the vehicles landed in the side of the building we were renting and caused significant structural damage. The house is 93 years old and also has a host of other structural and code violations that deem it unsafe and uninhabitable. At the time of the wreck, we had two males and a mother with 5 children staying at the Safe Haven House. Two of the children were trapped in their apartment on the upper level of the house and had to be rescued out by firemen. Damage to the building and only access to the upstairs units have prevented the two families from accessing their belongings. At this time, The Safe Haven House needs a new home that is safe and sound so that we can continue providing shelter to those in need, helping our displaced families with their basic and everyday needs until they can find stable housing, and also continue our important outreach work in the community.

The Safe Haven is much more than a safe space for young men on the verge of being consumed by poverty and violence. This organization also teaches life skills classes, takes youth on day trips, and feeds the community on their Love Thy Neighbor days. We are a faith-based non-profit organization that Safe Haven also has an annual homeless drive-through where sleeping bags, socks, blankets, and winter hats are distributed. Just a couple of months ago, we distributed over one hundred Thanksgiving baskets to area families. In addition, The Safe Haven House makes visits to homes and schools to intervene in the lives of troubled youth before they make decisions that could negatively impact their lives forever.

We thank you in advance for your thoughts, prayers, and donations. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the innocent family that was affected during this unnecessary tragedy. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

Lawrence Williams, Founder of The Safe Haven House

Breyauna Holloway, Administrator