The ministry is well known for bringing volunteers into affected areas after natural disasters and helping give people a head start on rebuilding their homes and their communities.
But for this project, Eight Days of Hope is partnering with Safe Harbor to build the Northeast's largest residential treatment center for girls ages 14-18 who have been rescued from human trafficking.
Hannah Fletcher, Safe House Ministry director for Eight Days of Hope, says Safe Harbor addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual issues.
"They know that true healing encompasses all three aspects, and so they provide not only medical resources and school resources and things like that, but they provide spiritual resources as well so that survivors can begin that road to healing in a safe environment," Fletcher relays.
Girls are usually recruited into the trade at a very young age, which means they do not usually know their skills or have much education. So Safe Harbor homes provide them with something they have not experienced: Freedom.
"A lot of times, it's hard for them to truly embrace that freedom because there is no one there to help them, to help provide them with alternative job skills, to help them get that college education that they need to have a place where they can live free of charge -- with no expectations -- and work and develop those skills," says Fletcher.
Construction on the newest center in Ohio is tentatively set to begin April 1st and is expected to continue through the remainder of the year. The ministry is still asking for volunteers, who must be 18 years old or older and complete a background check to serve with the Safe House Ministry.
