A Message from the Director

As one year closes and another begins, it is fairly common to remember and reflect on the previous year. Often times people will reflect on the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, the wins and the losses. Both sides of this reflection spectrum are ever present as we look back on 2023 at House of Cherith.

The trauma, the addiction, the pain, and heartache have all been greater than I could have ever imagined or expected. With human trafficking being one of the top leading criminal industries in our country and in our world, darkness and injustice are prominent in today’s society. The stories of survivors have become increasingly darker and more unjust as time has progressed. Reflecting on 2023 evokes fear in some and sparks sadness in others, but for me…it creates a sense of urgency.

Urgency to open even more survivor homes, to hire additional highly trained staff, to create new safe atmospheres where survivors can heal, to say YES to even more survivors as they face their trauma head on. 2023 was far from an easy year but it was a year that sparked HOPE.

With human trafficking continuing to plague our nation and our world, there is a lot left to do to combat this injustice. 2024 is the year to do just that – to dive in at an even deeper level, to collaborate and enhance survivor services, and to remind those still enslaved that they are worth a fighting chance.

Fighting for freedom, Dr. Kelsi Franco

“Before House of Cherith, my life was filled with poor choices, bad relationships, and family trauma including sexual violations starting at 4 years old. At about 35 years old, I went back to live with my parents to take care of my mom who was sick with Huntington’s disease. After about five years, she went into hospice and passed away.

I continued living with my dad who became my drinking buddy. Two years after that he was diagnosed with breast cancer. He died about five years later. Within that time we drank a lot, trying to cope with our grief. That didn’t really work.

One year after my dad’s diagnosis, I got back together with my high school sweetheart. It felt like a fairytale when we first got together but it quickly became a nightmare. After about 3 months, the emotional abuse started. Slowly it turned into physical and then sexual abuse. I was in a very dark place. I struggled with insomnia, PTSD, major depression, and alcoholism. I was in denial about how serious my problems were and I thought if I self-medicated with alcohol and marijuana all would be good in the world. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. I tried multiple times to commit suicide. I thought the world would be better off without me. During that time, I went to several hospitals and programs ultimately leading me to House of Cherith.

Since being at House of Cherith, I have found my own courage to believe in myself and face the world. I have learned new coping skills and feel confident that I will be able to lead a normal productive life. I have been sober for a year and a half. I even graduated from an Orthodontist Assistant program. All of this is made possible with the healing restorative power of Jesus whom I give all the gratitude and praise for my second chance at living a healthy life.”

In 2023, House of Cherith purchased a new Mommy + Me home in West Georgia. This new home will provide housing and support services for five additional families. The new home will open to residents in 2024.

At our annual Rewrite Ladies Luncheon, we connected with friends and shared how we can get more involved in rewriting the stories of women who are survivors of sexual trauma and exploitation.

Thanks to generous support, we raised $102,000 towards rewriting and transforming the lives of House of Cherith Residents!

House of Cherith hosted our third annual Golf Classic at Marietta Country Club. The proceeds from this tournament will benefit House of Cherith in our fight to provide safe housing and supportive services to women recovering from sexual exploitation.

We raised $48,000 to support survivors as they reclaim, renew, and rekindle their lives.

Join us on March 25, 2024 for the upcoming Golf Classic! Hocatl.org/events

House of Cherith hosted our Sporting Clay Tournament at Foxhall Resort in Douglasville, GA. We enjoyed a fun day of shooting with friends old and new while competing on Foxhall's station sporting clays course.

We raised over $40,000 towards empowering survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Join us on November 7, 2024 for the upcoming Clay Shoot! Hocatl.org/events