Brian Smith has had rental ownership in his blood since an early age, a prowess that helped him later in life turn a “rat-hole” into something special.

Born in 1958, Smith was raised in Los Angeles along with two older sisters. With his father largely unemployed until his death in 1963, Smith’s mother, Helen, supported the family by cleaning hotel rooms and working in a movie theater at night.

In the mid 1960s, his mom began acquiring rental properties. “She only had a high school education, but figured out how to acquire and maintain rental properties and taught me,” Smith said. “She did her own plumbing and roof repairs and taught me. She had me painting and always helping out.”

At 14, Smith, who worked as a gardener while attending school, began saving money to someday buy rental property.

After graduating college with a psychology degree, he spent 11 years selling bathroom fixtures, then relocated to San Diego where he drove a county bus.

All the while, Smith kept saving money by, among other things, sometimes sleeping in a trailer.

By 1994, Smith, then 36, had saved enough for down payment on a small rental and was looking for another. He learned of 3529 Van Dyke Ave. in San Diego, a five-unit townhouse apartment building.

The owner kept reducing the price because there were no interested buyers after three years on the market.

The reasons were obvious. “It was poorly maintained, had constant graffiti and crime, smelled and was full of cockroaches. When I opened the door, cockroaches fell. I pressed the smoke detector and the facing fell along with cockroaches.”

“It was a real rat-hole, but that was all I could afford,” Smith said.

After purchasing the building, Smith initially floundered. Tenants failed to pay rent. Drugs and crime were rampant.

He faced financial problems and fell behind in payments, but the bank refused to take the building.

“I was desperate at the time,” he said.

Smith tightened his belt financially and focused on fixing the property. He evicted troublesome tenants, removed graffiti, made repairs, improved maintenance, installed fencing and outdoor lights, exterminated cockroaches, hauled out trash and got the city to install streetlights.

And in 1996, after cleaning and fixing the property, he changed the building to sober living.

Today, 26 years later, Safe House remains a sober living building.

Smith said he offers affordable rates (including utilities), and no rent increases, to residents who are drug-free and turning their lives around. Each of the five two-bedroom townhomes have four residents.

All residents are randomly drug-tested at least monthly.

“Everyone here chooses to live in a clean and sober environment, pay their own way and maintain good behavior,” Smith said. “Those who don’t will leave.”

Marc Surprise, 43, has lived in Safe House for 12 drug-free years and is gainfully employed. He became drug-addicted at 18, periodically spending time in jail.

“Safe House probably saved my life,” Surprise said. “After completing my treatment program, I’m not sure where I would’ve gone. Here, everyone has a common interest in sobriety.”

Surprise is resident monitor and schedules weekly resident meetings. He said typical residents have completed treatment programs, have jobs and are serious about rehabilitation. Most remain Safe House residents until they can afford their own homes. Many return to visit friends and new residents.

About equal men and women reside in Safe House at any given time.

“It’s nice and quiet. Residents help each other out and have developed bonds,” Surprise said, noting two residents fell in love, got married and had a child.

“We are grateful to Brian for keeping Safe House. We know he could easily sell the building.”

Smith, now 64, lives in Clairemont with his wife, Beth, and their son, Gregory.

Looking back, Smith said proudly that he created Safe House to save his investment and not for government incentives or benefits.

But, over the years, he also found that helping people is a great feeling.

“Safe House has a place in my heart,” he said.

About this series

Jan Goldsmith is an emeritus member of the U-T’s Community Advisory Board. He is an attorney and former law partner, judge, state legislator, San Diego city attorney and Poway mayor.

Someone San Diego Should Know is a column written by members of the U-T’s Community Advisory Board about local people who are interesting and noteworthy because of their experiences, achievements, creativity or credentials.