It began with a question. Alicia, a Collin County native thriving in the medical industry, kept hearing the Lord’s call: “What are you going to do with your hands?” One night, the whisper became unmistakable. “You will build an aftercare facility for survivors of trafficking." These words set Alicia on a four-year journey of fundraising and program development. In 2020, her team opened the first home for the Treasured Vessels Foundation (TVF).
Texas is second in the nation for sex trafficking, yet the number of long-term homes for adult survivors is devastatingly low. Many women trafficked as minors age out of the child welfare system at 18. Overnight, their support disappears, leaving them without resources or a safe place to continue healing.
TVF provides the solution: a long-term, two-phase residential program. Melissa Wright, Community Impact and Survivor Advocate, explains that a core part of healing at TVF is letting go of damaging titles and embracing the identity God provides. She describes the shift in the words survivors begin to claim for themselves: “I am a child of God. I am not broken, I am healed. I am not dirty, I am beautiful and clean.”
This transformation of identity is central in Phase One, a six-month program dedicated to healing. Residents’ days are structured around holistic recovery, including equine therapy, art therapy, professional counseling, and medical care, all within a supportive home.
“The healing piece is the hardest, right?” Wright shares. “What might take a couple months for one person to heal from might take double or triple the amount of time for a different resident. We all have our own stories and our own walk with the Lord.”
After completing Phase One, residents can apply for the newly launched Phase Two, a separate home bridging survivors to an independent life. Here, women are mentored as they pursue education, secure employment, and practice life skills like budgeting for their own apartment. This expansion has doubled TVF’s capacity to serve.
Healing from trafficking is both intensive and costly, and the power of this community relies entirely on the generosity of sponsors, donors, and volunteers. Beyond financial support, staff actively engage locally, attending Chamber of Commerce meetings and educating businesses and schools on signs of trafficking.
One example of community support is Brothers Serving Others, a group of male volunteers who helped furnish the Phase Two home. Wright recounts how a survivor, once angry and terrified toward men due to her trauma, was deeply touched by their kindness. “God truly healed me today,” the survivor told Wright. “I saw and met so many kind, genuine men who weren't looking at me in any weird way. They were just being kind. They were being brothers. I've never gotten to experience that.”
TVF welcomes support through volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness. Individuals can participate in hands-on activities at the homes, help with events like the spring concert or the fall gala, or contribute resources like vehicles or household items. To learn more, visit www.treasuredvessels.org.