A new home dedicated to helping child survivors of sex trafficking has just opened in our community called Courage House Nevada.
Courage Worldwide, the nonprofit running this house, says it will give children the opportunity to recover from their trauma and grow up in a safe space.
This is the first treatment facility in Nevada where child survivors can live in until the age of 21.
One survivor, Jessica Contreras, who used to live in the Courage House in California says it was the best thing to happen to her, "Courage House made it easy. The staff were meeting me where I was at, they didn't expect perfection."
Jenny Williamson, Founder and CEO of Courage worldwide, "When they come here, they each get their own bedroom. The first thing we have to do is establish safety for them, emotional safety, and physical safety. That's why we don't disclose the location because there are people that want to hurt them."
Survivors will live in the house full-time where they will be cared for and home schooled.
Williamson says the program offers a wide range of therapy depending on the interests and hobbies of the clients. They have music therapy, play therapy, even horses and puppies to help them bond.
"I remember Cinnamon. Anybody who ever lived in Courage House in northern California remembers Cinnamon. She was the sweetest horse in the world, and she really helped me heal a lot because a lot of times I didn't have the words to speak in one-on-one therapy with a therapist," Contreras says.
Courage House Nevada received several donations including one of one million dollars.
One donor, Nelda Yaw Buckman, says she got involved with helping survivors after dealing with an unfortunate experience of her own many years ago, "My former husband had a sex addiction that had manifested itself in the sex industry and when I discovered that it was both devastating."
Buckman says for a while she blamed the sex workers, but after meeting some of them and learning about their stories and trauma, she knew she needed to help and has been doing so ever since.
Contreras says, "There are so many children that are being sold for sex that need a home to come home to and heal and it's really important that homes like this continue to open."
Contreras is now a mother and student at the University of Nevada, Reno studying to be a licensed marriage counselor and help with Courage House Nevada.
To help Courage House Nevada build more resources and space to house more survivors you can donate by clicking here.
