Hope Against Trafficking

The mission and vision of Hope Against Trafficking is based on the premise that LOVE transforms. Our mission centers on two distinct initiatives: 1) Community Education and 2) Restorative Residential Healing
The community education arm of our mission focuses on educating the community on the issue of human trafficking. This includes the vulnerabilities, signs of manipulation, lures, and ways to identify possible victims. It is our obligation as an organization to bring HOPE against trafficking by educating and bringing awareness which will, in turn, shed light into the darkness to empower our communities to stand up, turn on the lights, see the truth and do something about it!
Through transformative love, our restorative residential healing offers a loving community to help female survivors of human trafficking rebuild, restore and transform their lives. Our 2-year residential holistic program provides rent-free housing and comprehensive services focused on the physical, mental and economic transformational needs of female survivors of trafficking, giving them hope for their future and empowering them to thrive once again. This program is based on the success of our sister program, Magdalene/Thistle Farms Nashville, which has existed for over 20 years and achieves a remarkable 84% success rate in transforming the lives of survivors into self-sufficient individuals with hope for their future, as well as establishing successful social enterprises that have empowered/equipped women with key skills.
Program Objectives:
• 24-month, rent-free, home environment based on a community-living model
• Support to residents to live honest, positive, and self-sufficient lives
• A supportive environment without their dependence on drugs and alcohol
• Education on needed support services as well as paid vocational opportunities
• An atmosphere that fosters self-understanding through personal and spiritual growth
• Time and support needed to recover from past abuse and to fully understand the role it plays in trafficking, prostitution and addiction
• Budgeting and savings education for income and asset development
• Opportunities to work toward economic self-sufficiency at a social enterprise to be established by Hope Against Trafficking.

Hope Against Trafficking currently owns three homes. Our first home, a single-family dwelling, opened its doors in August 2018 and began welcoming women to live in loving community. This home has the capacity to house five women and currently has 4 residents.
Our second home, a four-unit apartment building, was acquired in May 2017. Originally tagged by the city for demolition, we were given the house for $30 with a promise to restore and inhabit it. We, along with 600 volunteers and many business partnerships in the community, pulled together and renovated it into a beautiful home. After almost two years of a true labor of love, the renovations are complete and ready to welcome women home. This home will house four women per apartment with a total capacity of 16.

Our third home was recently acquired and is in the process of renovation by the loving hands and feet of our volunteer community. We have built relationships with local organizations like Salvation Army, Common Ground and Grace Centers of Hope who have identified the need for transitional low-income housing for those who are rebuilding their lives and are able to rent but may still need minor support and a safe place to begin their journey into independent living. This home will answer the need in the community while providing a small source of funding to Hope Against Trafficking.

We also acquired additional pieces of land right around our homes and converted them into beautiful community gardens and vegetable gardens, with a chicken coop to be a blessing to the community that we are in. The neighbors have come alongside us by helping us manage and maintain the gardens by watering and weeding them in exchange for having a place to go that is beautiful and brings community together as well as free access to healthy, organic vegetables. Our goal is to impact lives by bringing HOPE against trafficking, HOPE for restoration and HOPE for stronger communities.

We recently acquired a 4th building that needs to lovingly transformed in our offices, counseling center and art studio. At the same time we are renovating this, we are working to raise the funds to open our 2nd home to 16 more survivors of trafficking.