Growing Hope: How Community Support Is Helping Survivors Heal at Sanctum House
Healing from human trafficking is not a single moment—it’s a journey. It takes safety, compassionate care, trusted relationships, and opportunities to rediscover hope.
Thanks to the generous support of Impact100 Oakland County, Sanctum House has continued to provide survivors with the specialized care, therapeutic support, and restorative experiences that make healing possible.
A Safe Place to Begin Again
Since January 2026, Sanctum House has provided more than 1,800 nights of shelter for survivors of human trafficking. During that same period, staff have provided more than 775 rides to medical appointments, jobs, court proceedings, and family reunification meetings, while offering emotional support and counseling more than 900 times.
These numbers represent far more than services delivered—they represent moments when survivors were met with compassion, dignity, and unwavering support.
Healing Through Specialized Care
Impact100 Oakland County grant funding has helped make specialized trauma-informed mental health care available to women living in Sanctum House’s long-term residential program.
The grant has funded both individual therapy sessions, where survivors work one-on-one with trained professionals to process trauma and rebuild their sense of self, and weekly group therapy sessions, creating a supportive community where women can heal together through shared understanding and encouragement.
Finding Joy in Everyday Moments
Healing also happens outside the counseling room.
Grant funding has allowed residents to enjoy simple but meaningful experiences that foster connection and belonging—from movie nights and tie-dye parties to shared pizza dinners and community gatherings.
These moments of laughter, creativity, and friendship provide opportunities for survivors to reconnect with parts of themselves that trauma often steals.
A Garden That Honors Love and Resilience
This year brought an unexpected and heartbreaking loss to the Sanctum House family.
Maryellen King, Sanctum House’s beloved Intake and Volunteer Coordinator, passed away unexpectedly. For many survivors, Maryellen was the first compassionate voice they heard when reaching out for help. She welcomed women into safety, listened without judgment, and became a trusted grandmother figure whose kindness left a lasting impact.
Her passing deeply affected both residents and staff.
In response, survivors chose to honor Maryellen in the way they knew best—by creating something that would continue giving hope to others.
Using Impact100 grant funding, residents planted vegetable gardens, restored a nature trail on the property, and created the Maryellen King Memorial Peace Garden. Together, they also hosted a special dedication ceremony for volunteers and supporters, celebrating Maryellen’s legacy while creating a peaceful place where future survivors can reflect, heal, and find strength.
The garden now stands as a living reminder that healing can grow even in seasons of profound loss.
Resilience That Inspires
While losing Maryellen challenged the entire Sanctum House community, it also revealed the extraordinary resilience of the women who call Sanctum House home.
Rather than allowing grief to define them, the survivors transformed it into an act of generosity—creating a lasting space that will benefit every woman who walks through Sanctum House’s doors in the years ahead.
Their courage demonstrates that healing is not only possible but can also become a gift shared with others.
Looking Toward the Future
Sanctum House remains committed to providing comprehensive care for survivors through strong community partnerships, private philanthropy, government grants, and annual fundraising events like the Wings of Courage fundraiser.
As the organization continues to grow, support from partners like Impact100 Oakland County provides the stability needed to meet survivors where they are while expanding opportunities for healing and restoration.
Thank You for Making Healing Possible
The Impact100 Oakland County grant has done far more than fund services—it has created opportunities for survivors to heal emotionally, build community, celebrate life, and honor those who have walked beside them.
Every therapy session, every shared meal, every ride to an appointment, and every flower planted in the Peace Garden reflects the power of a community that believes survivors deserve safety, hope, and the chance to build a brighter future.
Together, we are helping survivors move beyond trauma and toward lives filled with dignity, resilience, and possibility.