Safe Harbor of Chester County is welcoming Jessica Chappell as its new executive director.

“Jessica is an inspiring and transformational leader with a passion for community service,” states the Safe Harbor announcement. “Dedicated to helping others, especially disenfranchised and marginalized individuals, she is committed to furthering the standards of access and inclusion.”

Jessica Chappell was born and raised in Chester County. She has a master’s degree in clinical psychology, with a background in clinical programs with neuro-diverse populations.

She was most recently with Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health’s nonprofit Residential Treatment Facility and served as the executive director for Main Line Rehabilitation (now Neurorestorative) for 18 years.

Chappell brings a strong vision to the future of Safe Harbor, including expanding services to aid residents in finding work and, ultimately, permanent housing.

She also supports repurposing spaces to allow for daytime hours, enhancing the Community Bag Lunch Program, formalizing MSW student internship programs, and increasing collaboration with other social service nonprofits in the region.

Established in 1992, Safe Harbor was created to respond to the heightened number of people sleeping in the downtown area of West Chester.

 Starting out as a traveling shelter until securing a permanent facility in 1995, Safe Harbor now operates as a “low demand” shelter, assisting anyone, as long as they have space.

Today, they serve 40 residents at a time, 20 men and 20 women, and Safe Harbor is the only area shelter for single women.

Residents are provided with food, shelter, and structured support in a secure environment. This includes providing interview opportunities, training, transportation, and more for residents to secure work and ultimately permanent housing.

Safe Harbor also provides daily bagged lunches for the wider community with its many partners.

For 31 years, Safe Harbor has been dedicated to serving the homeless population of Chester County.