Domestic Partners
Veronica's Voice, Missouri
Veronica’s Voice is a beacon of hope for women and children exploited through commercial sex. Shared Hope International and Veronica’s Voice unite to educate and empower victims, leading to the recovery of their mind, body and spirit. Shared Hope’s partnership with this survivor-led organization has continued to grow since 2006. Kristy Childs, Executive Director, uses her expertise as a survivor to create quality rescue and restorative programs that reach the heart of Kansas City’s sex trade. She also works in partnership with other survivors and receives referrals from other locations, including Courtney’s House in Washington, D.C.
One survivor, Kelly*, shares her experience in receiving rehabilitation: “Veronica’s Voice pulled me out of a dark hole, helped me find a better life for myself, and showed me I’m not a prostitute, but a survivor. I am very grateful for the continued help and support Veronica’s Voice has given me.”
Through a survivor-led outreach team that is solely funded by Shared Hope, Veronica’s Voice can offer service s to women and children trapped in sexual exploitation. In 2010, their team has reached 195 women and children on the streets of Kansas City. They also trained 50 new volunteers in survivor-led outreach. Additionally, Veronica’s Voice runs a crisis line, a full array of counseling services and relapse prevention for victims.
Veronica’s Voice has been certified by local law enforcement as an organization capable of providing restorative programs – a great success and testimony to the hard work of the Veronica’s Voice staff in building relationships within the community.
Courtney's House, Washington, D.C.
Shared Hope’s partner, Courtney’s House, is a survivor-led organization that rescues and restores victims of child sex trafficking through strategic initiatives in metropolitan Washington, D.C., including street outreach and a forthcoming long-term shelter, Shae’s Place.
The Courtney’s House street outreach program identifies and rescues victims of child sex trafficking. Funding from Shared Hope allows trained volunteers to distribute small gifts to exploited women and children on the streets of D.C. These gifts contain the phone number of a 24-hour hotline operated by survivors that provides victims with immediate assistance. In the past year, 669 people were reached through street outreach, 319 calls were made to the victim services hotline, and 106 individuals received follow-up services.
Tina Frundt, founder and executive director of Courtney’s House, works tirelessly to rescue girls. She helped one girl, Karen, escape to freedom after being connected through the National Hotline. Tina communicated with Karen for several days until she was ready to escape. She picked Karen up, provided her with new clothes and arranged her travel to a partner shelter where Karen would be safe and far out of reach from her pimp. During her escape, Karen told Tina, “You’re an angel. I can’t believe you did this for me. When I recover, I want to come back and work for you.” Thanks to Shared Hope’s support of Courtney’s House - and Tina’s courage - girls like Karen have a way off the streets and they can be freed from the destructive and violent control of their traffickers.
Shae’s Place, Washington D.C.
Shared Hope is also proud to stand beside Courtney’s House as they open Shae’s Place, the first safe haven in D.C. specifically designed for child victims of sex trafficking. Slated to open in 2011, Shae’s Place will operate as a restorative home for girls ages 12-17. The shelter will provide a therapeutic environment to ensure survivors receive holistic rehabilitation through specialized services. Shae’s Place will be the first of its kind within the tri-state area and will exclusively serve domestic minor sex trafficking victims. The girls will each receive safe shelter, healthy food, clothes, and home-schooling.
On Eagles' Wings, North Carolina
On Eagles’ Wings Ministries is Shared Hope’s faith-based partner that runs Hope House, a residential home for victims of sex trafficking. Hope House serves young girls rescued from commercial sexual exploitation. Their holistic and long-term program includes counseling, life skills, academic development and spiritual guidance in a caring, familial environment.
Cassie*, a survivor who received services at Hope House, said this about her rehabilitative experience: “I know I’m not alone...I know you guys did everything for me...you’ve shown me that I can get through life without fighting, without selling myself short. I just wanted to thank you for saving my life.”
Through Shared Hope International’s support, Hope House is able to provide all staffing and programmatic needs to run this life-saving home. Shared Hope also offers significant technical assistance in the programmatic development of Hope House and funds a large portion of the educational, spiritual and therapeutic curriculum at the facility.
*Names changed to protect the identity of those we serve.