Safe Space 1^st unites communities under one common message. – that everyone deserves a safe space 1^st.

Safe Space 1^st is a movement that strives to provide a community consciousness of safe space 1st. This movement changes the vernacular of what it means, feels, and looks like to be a community and collectively expresses the intention of creating safe welcoming spaces.

Safe Space 1^st strives to:

• SProvide a clear program for communities to respond to threats related to the management of space that is adaptable to different situations.
• Increase the publics confidence regarding the management of spaces.
• Have every community become a “Safe Space 1^st Community” – together expressing the intention of providing safe welcoming spaces
• Provide innovative solutions for community safety regarding the management of spaces.
• Achieve a higher level of community safety regarding space management.

Seeing is Believing- Visible Signs of Intention Displaying a Vision of Hope

The success of Safe Space 1^st relies heavily on the involvement of everyone within communities.  Residents, businesses, and stakeholders within communities can print Safe Space 1^st signage   and display it throughout their neighborhoods to encourage community safety where they live, work and play. By residents, businesses and stakeholders agreeing to display Safe Space 1^stsignage in business windows, on roadways etc. they are expressing their commitment to keeping communities safe in every way.

How to be Deemed a Safe Space

Current Classifications of Space

Safe Space 1st is designed as an inclusive framework to be non- discriminating except for certain risk factors which will be defined in the Safe Space 1st framework. Our partnership with diverse groups is based on mutual respect to address the inclusive diverse needs. Safe Space 1sts classifications for types of space stems partly from Durham Regions’ Community Safety and Well Being Plan. Durham Region’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan outlines priority risk factors which the Safe Space 1st Program classifies as support spaces. These priority risk factors are:

• Mental Health
• Substance Use
• Homelessness and Basic Needs
• Criminal Involvement
• Victimization
• Social Isolation
• Experiences of Racism

In addition to the priority risk factors outlined in Durham Regions Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, other classifications of space include:

• Mobile Spaces
• Public Spaces
• Living Spaces
• Recreational Spaces
• Emergency Spaces
• Online Spaces
• Entertainment Spaces
• Business Spaces