17 House
We are fundraising for a transitional home for 17-24 year-old trafficking survivors called 17 House. This is the next step in our Continuum of Care to give Overcomers a safe, stable place to live while healing from trauma.
Why 17 House?
- Many consider 17 as the most challenging age to be recovered from human trafficking
- There are housing options for children under 17, and options for adults 18 and over
- 17-year-olds are left in a gap
- DFPS (CPS) laws deem them children
- Legally, as minors, they cannot qualify for adult transitional housing or consent
- Residential Treatment Facilities licensed to house minors won’t accept them because once they turn 18, they become ineligible for the programs
Many Overcomers who are progressing in our programs still do not have a safe, stable place to live. It is extremely difficult for Overcomers to learn in school and heal in counseling when they are returning home to traumatizing circumstances.
Sarah* was a Refuge City Overcomer who had no choice but to live with her trafficker while she was getting help in our program.
Maria* was living with her abuser upstairs while attending our GED school. Another Overcomer lived in a storage unit.
17 House solves this problem.