Founded in 2010 by a survivor of human trafficking, The WellHouse provides comprehensive restoration opportunities for female victims aged 11 to adult. Located on a 63-acre campus in rural Alabama, it is the largest single-site residential service provider for trafficking survivors in the U.S., offering holistic care including stabilization, short-term, long-term, and transitional living phases, with a focus on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing. Recognized nationally, The WellHouse has served over 700 adult survivors and now operates WellHouse Child, a program for girls, providing essential services like medical care, therapy, education, and family support, nearing capacity with 8 girls and 25 women currently in its programs.
The Jensen Project has agreed to support The WellHouse’s alumni care initiatives, which focus on providing affordable housing, job skills training, and expanding ShopWell, their survivor-run social enterprise. This funding will also equip the new ShopWell studio and facilitate plans to rent a storefront, enhancing job opportunities and economic empowerment for both graduates and residents.
Survivors of human trafficking face numerous challenges post-recovery, including securing affordable housing and sustainable employment. The WellHouse equips them with essential life skills, financial literacy, and emotional healing through programs like ShopWell, empowering them towards long-term success. Expansion plans for 2024 include establishing the WellHouse Barn for increased employment opportunities and opening a ShopWell storefront in 2025, crucial steps in supporting survivors’ economic independence and ongoing healing.
Collaboration is important to us at The Jensen Project, so the positive feedback from partners and survivors prompted us to consider The WellHouse’s application carefully, culminating in a site visit that truly impressed us.
Their property, located off the beaten path in Alabama, offers a serene and secure environment ideal for healing. It’s a gated area surrounded by trees, with no signage, ensuring privacy. The land includes various facilities: a safe house for minors, a separate safe house for adults, the soon-to-be-completed Shop Well barn for their economic empowerment program, a central pond, a three-mile walking path, apartments for independent living graduates, a chapel, and the main building for offices and community gatherings.
The in-person visit revealed a much stronger connection and understanding of their mission and collaborative spirit than virtual interactions had conveyed. The Wellhouse’s approach respects the diverse spiritual healing needs of survivors, offering knowledge on faith without imposing it.
Their economic empowerment (EE) program features beautifully crafted items such as hand-stitched quilts retailing between $150 to $300 and intricately designed jewelry. This approach mirrors the quality seen in programs like Rethreaded and Design for Joy, emphasizing the creation of valuable products.
Visiting in person made it easier to see how their mission aligns with other partners we’ve vetted and trusted, solidifying our decision to support their impactful work.
The WellHouse's alumni care initiatives focus on providing affordable housing, job skills training, and expanding ShopWell, their survivor-run social enterprise.
A yearly grant program, funding up to $2 Million to advance economic empowerment and housing opportunities for agencies who serve adult female survivors of human trafficking.
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It takes funding for organizations to help women impacted by sexual violence, but it’s just the starting point. The Jensen Project’s holistic approach empowers nonprofits with grants, resources, and ongoing support to fuel the fight against sexual violence.