Restorations Second Stage Homes provides vital support to survivors of sexual exploitation and human trafficking through providing long-term housing and peer programming that is led by survivors.
Nancy’s House, which welcomed its first residents in 2022 and is supported by granting from BCF and fundholders, provides support to meet the physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual needs of up to three survivors at a time for a period of up to two years.
“Survivors of human trafficking and exploitation face complex barriers to long-term safety, stability, and healing — barriers that don’t disappear after crisis intervention ends,” said Executive Director Jennifer Lucking. “Our work fills a critical gap in care, offering survivors a place to heal, rebuild, and plan for the future in a supportive, trauma- informed environment.”
Restorations provides second-stage care, bridging the gap between initial first-stage crisis housing and independent living. Lucking said that for the broader community, the organization “plays a vital role in helping break the cycle of exploitation by equipping survivors to reintegrate into society with dignity, resilience, and purpose.”
“When survivors are supported, our entire community becomes stronger and more just,” she said.
Athena first connected with Restorations Second Stage Homes in 2021 when she was hospitalized and referred to the organization’s Peer Advocacy program. As she navigated first-stage programming, her peer advocates walked alongside her as she built stability and became ready for the next step.
At Nancy’s House, Athena continued developing the confidence and skills she needed to live independently and thrive. When the end of her two-year stay approached, she was able to secure affordable housing and will now be living on her own for the first time.
“I’m excited and a little nervous, but Restorations (Peer Support) has been a part of my journey since the very beginning, before the residential program was open,” she shared.
“They pretty much laid the foundation for me to rebuild. Since living at Nancy’s House, I’ve finished high school, gone back to my home city to visit friends and family after gaining the confidence not to slip into old ways, and now I’m able to live independently. I never would have seen myself getting this far.”
