To: Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Report Title: SAFE Center Funding Proposal
☐Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ALLOCATE $5 million in funding for the planning, development, and operations of the proposed Services and Access for Everyone (SAFE) Center.
FISCAL IMPACT:
One-time $5M over three years to be administered by the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD). This is based on a budget of $1.6 million in Year 1, plus cost of living increases in Year 2 and Year 3.
BACKGROUND:
On January 28, 2025, the Board of Supervisors received public comment in support of the establishment of an Immigrant Services Center in Contra Costa County. Support of the formation of a center is in response to the news and events across Contra Costa County that affect the immigrant community. Supervisor Ken Carlson assumed the lead on this topic and assembled a core team to discuss the formation of the Services & Access For Everyone (SAFE) Center, formerly known as the WISH Center.
On April 9, 2025, Supervisor Carlson hosted a countywide provider convening where over 50 different community-based organizations and community partners gathered to learn more about the SAFE Center and to gauge community interest. Based on meetings and discussions with the core group and community, the SAFE Center would start as a three-year pilot program that would function like the Family Justice Center, with the opportunity to grow and sustain itself long-term via philanthropic funding and grants.
The vision for the SAFE Center is to have a vibrant community where immigrants and non-immigrants are fully included, celebrated, and experience a profound sense of belonging. Through inclusion, innovation, and collaboration, the SAFE Center aims to create an environment that promotes hope and healing.
Immigrants in Contra Costa Statistics (see Attachment A)
• In 2023, 303,817 Contra Costa residents are foreign-born, a 15.8% increase from 2015.
• The top five Countries of Origin are Mexico, the Philippines, India, China, and El Salvador.
• The percentage growth of employed foreign-born workers has increased by 13.5% from 2017 to 2023.
• In 2023, 47.9% of foreign-born residents work in management, business, science, and arts occupations, 19% work in sales and office occupations, 16.5% work in service occupations, 8.9% work in production, transportation, and material moving occupations, and 7.7% work on natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.
• The number of foreign-born individuals with Bachelor’s degrees or higher increased by 26.7% from 2017 to 2023.
• Contra Costa’s foreign-born residents contributed $16.8 billion to the county’s economy.
• 71% of undocumented immigrants speak Spanish at home.
• Between 58,500-63,000 undocumented immigrants lived in Contra Costa County as of 2019.
SAFE Center Information
Many organizations already serve immigrants and provide valuable support. However, there are three key challenges that persist in the immigrant community: fear and isolation, ineffective outreach, and lack of coordination among service providers. By addressing these challenges, the SAFE Center will create a more inclusive, coordinated, and effective system that meets the needs of our immigrant communities.
The SAFE Center will fulfill backbone functions needed for effective delivery of resources and sustainability by supporting and coordinating aligned activities like Know Your Rights workshops, legal clinics, and other educational workshops, building public will, advancing immigrant-inclusive policies, mobilizing funding, and establishing shared measurement systems and practices.
The SAFE Center aims to promote belonging and community-building through the various public-private partnerships. There are eleven focus areas that the SAFE Center will have: legal services, k-12 and higher education resources for parents and students, healthcare and mental health services, safety net services, economic opportunities, social connections, cultural celebrations, services for seniors, financial literacy, affordable housing resources, and civic engagement.
This approach is guided by the values of belonging, inclusion, and transparency in community engagement. The plan is to build strong relationships with partners and community members, receive ongoing input and feedback from all stakeholders, and have a strong commitment to inclusivity, where decisions are made with transparency and where every voice matters.
The Implementation Plan: Three Key Phases
Phase 1: Brainstorming & Community Conversations (Months 1-4)
• Develop the concept paper, Hub design, and overall process.
• Identify champions and strategic partners and begin engagement.
• Explore funding sources and initiate conversations with funders.
• Establish a core group of partners and integrate their input.
• Conduct community outreach and education about the Hub.
• Begin direct engagement with immigrant communities to assess needs (in partnership with Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services department).
Phase 2: Infrastructure Development & Partnership Building (Months 5-8)
• Identify and secure a central location, make necessary improvements, and establish infrastructure.
• Hire Hub staff and develop work plans.
• Develop service plans, an operational manual, and a communication strategy.
• Formalize partnerships through MOUs and create structured service pathways.
• Initiate satellite locations by offering initial services, programs, and educational workshops.
• Continue engagement with immigrant communities to refine services (in partnership with Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services department).
Phase 3: Center Operations & Expanded Community Outreach (Months 9-12)
• Launch and fully operate the central Hub.
• Refine service delivery models and communication strategies based on feedback.
• Develop long-term sustainability plans and expand engagement with private funders.
• Implement a comprehensive outreach strategy and establish a volunteer network.
Governance
The SAFE Center will be led by a non-profit organization dedicated to elevating immigrant voices, protecting their rights, and addressing their needs. This will be a similar model to the Family Justice Center
Budget Summary (see Attachment B)
The funding for this three-year pilot program will cover: a central and accessible location, satellite locations, virtual center, and core staff.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The SAFE Center will not move forward leaving approximately 27% of Contra Costa County residents without effective delivery of resources that meet the needs of our immigrant community.