Safe Haven Spaces

One person can make a difference.
Grassroots action means noticing where change is needed and choosing to get involved—even when the path forward isn’t obvious. That’s exactly how my journey with Safe Haven Spaces began.

We have a problem in Harris County…

  • Harris County receives nearly 40,000 reports of child abuse annually.

  • The Harris County District Attorney’s Crimes Against Children Division prosecutes a significant number of these cases. These include cases involving child sexual abuse, often where the offender is a family member, caregiver, or trusted individual. Such cases can span multiple victims and long durations of abuse.

  • In 2023, the Harris County Children’s Assessment Center (CAC) review of cases included about 10,799 related specifically to child sexual abuse and trafficking. Many of these referrals lead to criminal prosecution.

Where it makes a difference

The DA’s interview rooms, where children first meet prosecutors and tell their stories, have remained unchanged for over 20 years.

The rooms include stained furniture, worn toys, and bare walls, contributing to a cold and intimidating environment for children already experiencing trauma. Such settings exacerbate the emotional distress of victims and their families during a difficult time.

The Challenge

Child victims of abuse must recount traumatic experiences during interviews with prosecutors.

These moments are overwhelming, frightening, and emotionally difficult.

Currently, children seek comfort in oversized stuffed animals and old furnishings to feel safe enough to speak, but these are not durable or hygenic.

Purpose & Impact

The Safe Haven Spaces project will renovate and revitalize these interview rooms, transforming them into welcoming environments that convey comfort, calm and support.

By improving the physical surroundings, I intend to help young victims and their families feel safer and more cared for as they navigate the path to justice.

Hundreds of children use these rooms each year.

How this all started

In January 2025, a 7-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in broad daylight while walking home from school two blocks from my home. The perpetrator remains at large but has a long history of targeting young children in the community during their commutes on foot. Motivated by this terrible crime, I joined forces with several concerned neighbors to pursue justice. Through persistent demands for transparency, we uncovered many critical failures, including the system not registering the offender as a sex offender.

We wrote letters, placed calls and requested meetings with authorities. Our efforts led to the perpetrator being added to the Texas Top 10 Most Wanted list, the reward increased to $10,000, and we advocated for legislative reforms such as HB 2407 to strengthen accountability for such crimes.

During this process, I met with members of the District Attorney’s office and toured the facilities where victims receive support. This experience revealed an opportunity to create a meaningful, tangible intervention to profoundly improve the experience of child abuse victims and their families.