Who We Are
Where Hope Lives is a movement of people committed to stopping human trafficking and healing survivors after recovery. The primary way we do this is through the human trafficking programs at the Phoenix Dream Center and Street Light USA, which are sister organizations led by husband-and-wife team, Brian and Skye Steele. Their purpose is to serve children and young adult girls and boys who are victims of sex trafficking.
Since 2006, over 7,900 children and young adult girls have been served through the specialized trauma informed sensory modulation full time live in programs of the Phoenix Dream Center and Street Light USA.
These programs are designed specifically for children and young adult girls and boys who are victims of human trafficking and have high levels of medical and behavioral health needs due to significant trauma from being trafficked against their will for sexual exploitation.
The girls and young women and men are served in apartment suites and houses and are at capacity with a waiting list of referrals from all over the world.
The campuses have on-site trauma informed sensory modulation services including housing, on-site medical centers, on-site dental, on-site vision, on-site behavioral health, on-site beauty salon, on-site career development, on-site culinary arts, on-site high schools and more.
The placement phone rings every hour with calls from all over the U.S. looking for beds for both child and young adult survivors of human trafficking.
Where We’re Going
In 2023, we will complete our current expansion effort which will allow us to serve up to 100 human trafficking survivors bringing us to over 250 beds for child and young adult girls and boys.
By 2026, we plan to have break ground on the trauma informed sensory modulation facilities including over 1,000 beds available for children and young adults who have survived human trafficking making this the largest and most effective operation in the world.
By 2030, we plan to have built out a 1st of its kind hospital dedicated to the care and specializing exclusively in the physical and behavioral health needs of children and young adult victims of human trafficking.
Current Projects to Expand Services to Help More Child and Young Adult Victims
Project Details
Expansion Of Young Adult Human Trafficking Housing Services
Project Summary: At our 3210 NW Grand site in Phoenix, AZ we have the opportunity to complete facility upgrades that will allow for a 100% increase in housing capacity. This would allow us to provide trauma informed, sensory modulation human trafficking housing and behavioral health services to an additional 200 young adult survivors of sex trafficking each year.
Funding Use: Funding for this project would include the renovating 60,500 sq ft apartments which would enable the apartments to transition from housing two people at a time to three people through improved design and efficiency layouts. This project would also provide more energy efficient lighting, HVAC, and windows and doors which would provide a significant on-going savings to the utility expenses.
Full Project Funding Need: $1,435,500
Per Apartment Suite Full Remodel: $25,000
Per Apartment Suite Partial Remodel: $10,000
Plan For Sustainability: The current operating budget for this project, which is already raised and secured, for these 60 rooms is $1,352,000 per year in utility costs, food costs, insurances costs, staffing costs, and maintenance costs. Currently the operating costs of these 60 rooms is being covered by existing budget from private and government grants, private foundations and donations from individuals. We project a 10% increase in operation costs for the expansion of these rooms. Most of these costs are for supplemental food costs and utility costs. We have secured the additional costs from some of the same sources providing the $135,200 per year. However, we also project a 5% reduction in utility costs as we are able to transition these rooms to higher efficiency windows, doors, HVAC units which make up the bulk of the utility expense. So we anticipate that the true bottom line sustainability costs will be much less than the projected $135,200 per year.
Building of Human Trafficking Medical Facility for Child and Young Adult Survivors
Project Summary: We own 9 acres of develop-ready land next to our juvenile behavioral health homes in Glendale, AZ. We are drafting plans for a 3-story medical facility that specializes exclusively in helping children and young adults who have significant physical and mental trauma from human trafficking. The medical facility will have 120 beds for significant behavioral health trauma and 50 beds for significant physical health trauma for victims of human trafficking.
Funding Use: Funding for this project would be used to develop the land and build the 3-story medical facility.
Projected Funding Need: $41,540,000
Plan for Sustainability: The current operating budget for this project, which is already raised and secured, is $800,000 per year and covers the current medically related costs of insurance costs, staffing costs, therapeutic costs, and the behavioral health costs. We project a significant increase in operating costs which are mostly for the additional food costs, insurances costs, staffing costs, therapeutic costs, and the behavioral health costs. The increase in need of operating funds would be secured through government service contacts, government grants, private foundations and individual donors. We currently have contracts with the AHCCCS, and Public Insurance Behavioral Health Contracts to cover the bulk of the costs of the behavioral health and medical costs. These contracts would be expanded to take in the additional children and take on the additional costs. The implementation of the increase in services available would be on a ramp-up scale that ensures that operating capital is covered before additional services are opened up to the community. The pace of the ramp up would be at the pace that the funding increase is covered.
Building of Equine Therapy Facility for Child and Young Adult Survivors
Project Summary: We own 9 acres of develop-ready land next to our juvenile behavioral health homes in Glendale, AZ. We have drawn up plans to build a therapeutic equestrian ranch on 1.5 of those acres. The equine therapy ranch will serve between 500 and 750 girls and young women each year who have significant trauma from sex trafficking. The program will serve both the children and young adults of the Phoenix Dream Center and StreetLightUSA as well as the residents from partner human trafficking recovery centers around the Phoenix Metro area.
Funding Use: Funding for this project would be used to develop the land and build the stables, round pens, water lines and fencing.
Projected Funding Need: $275,000
Plan for Sustainability: The current operating budget for this project, which is already raised and secured through private donations and insurance billing, is $75,000. This covers the current equine therapy costs of sending our children and young women to off-site equine therapy services. We project an overall decrease in operating costs which are mostly for the transportation, staffing and service fees for the services we are currently receiving.
Building of Childcare Center for Young Adult Trafficking Survivors
Project Summary: We have currently raised $300,000 of our $500,000 budget to begin the remodeling of the 3,000 sq ft building in the center of the Dream Center that is our designated licensed childcare facility. The facility will be able to offer high quality, nurturing care for infants through 5 years old of who are children of the young adult human trafficking victims. On average, 30% of the young adult women who come into our human trafficking program are pregnant and need this additional level of care. We have secured a licensed childcare operator for the facility that will also provide jobs to the young women in our program.
Projected Funding Need: $500,000 ($200,000 remaining need)
Plan For Sustainability: The current operating budget for this project, which is already raised and secured, is $56,000 per year in supplemental childcare costs, utility costs, food costs, insurances costs, staffing costs, and maintenance costs. Currently the operating costs of these childcare services is being covered by existing budget from private and government grants, private foundations and donations from individuals. We project a 10% increase in operation costs for the expansion of these services. However, we also project a 45% increase in billable services hours to AHCCCS since the childcare being offered will now be in a licensed facility. This increase in income will allow for the hiring of young women after they have completed the program and will offer career development paths for them.
Building of Career Center For Child and Young Adult Human Trafficking Survivors
Project Summary: We are building a 2,500 sq ft building on our 3210 N Grand Campus that will be a career center for both our child and young adult human trafficking recovery programs. The center will focus on career development opportunities, manage current job training programs and offer employment opportunities to our residents.
Funding Use: Funding for this project would be used to build the career development center on our existing campus.
Projected Funding Need: $378,000
Plan For Sustainability: The current operating budget for this project, which is already raised and secured, is $27,000 per year in utility costs, insurances costs, staffing costs, and maintenance costs. Currently the operating costs of the career services are in an existing, but smaller, part of the campus. We project a 20% increase in operation costs for the expansion of these services. These increased costs would be contracts would be expanded to take in the additional children and take on the additional costs. The implementation of the increase in services available would be on a ramp-up scale that ensures that operating capital is covered before additional services are opened up to the community. The pace of the ramp up would be at the pace that the 150% funding increase is covered.
About Our Team
Brian D Steele, Executive Director of Phoenix Dream Center
Brian D. Steele has served as the Executive Director of the Phoenix Dream Center for 15 years. Brian serves on AZ Governor Doug Ducey’s Human Trafficking Council as the Policy Committee and the Victim Services Committee Chair and he also chairs the Victim Services Committee for the City of Phoenix Human Trafficking Task Force. Brian has worked with Arizona service providers for over 12 years dramatically increasing the available human trafficking housing, medical and behavioral health services that Arizona offers and he contributes to legislation changes in the fight to end human trafficking in Arizona.
Skye Steele, Co-Founder Human Trafficking Programs
Skye Steele is the founder of the Phoenix Dream Center’s Human Trafficking Program for young adults which, in the past 12 years, has served over 900 young women between the ages of 14 and 26 years old. Skye is also the Executive Director of StreetLightUSA (the juvenile-aged human trafficking recovery arm of the Dream Center for children as young as 11) which in the past 12 years has served over 1,700 adolescent teen girls primarily between the ages of 11 and 17 years old. Skye specializes in the implementation of Family Systems Healing Models, Trauma Informed Integrated Care and Neurosensory Modulation for victims of human trafficking, which has yielded some of the highest success rates for trafficking programs in the nation.
Together, Brian and Skye guide a network of over 200 Arizona Faith Based Organizations and over 100 Arizona Businesses in their efforts to play supporting roles in addressing human trafficking in Arizona. In the past 15 years, these efforts have included them raising over $49,000,000 in financial donations from the community investing into human trafficking recover services, as well as thousands of volunteer projects and tens of thousands of volunteers engaging in opportunities to serve human trafficking survivors.
Before entering into the Social Services arena, Brian spent 8 years working in Engineering for Corporate Manufacturing. He holds a Masters level Theology, Bachelors level Management as well as Engineering and Middle Eastern Studies Certifications. Skye has a background in psychology and holds a Bachelors level Psychology as well as doctoral level studies in behavioral health practice.
Board of Directors
Doug Preudhomme, Board Chairman
Jason Penrose, Board Secretary
John Parnell, Board Treasurer
Terry Granthan, Board Member
Advisory Committee Members
Dr. Pamela H. Williams, MD, Ophthalmologyory
Dr. Sherry Jones, EdD, Education Advancement
Dr. Beverly J. Thomas-Carter, DNP, Integrated Health
Dr. Minseok Kang, DMD, Oral Health
Dr. Carla Grace PhD, Behavioral Health
Dr. Sarah Beaumont MD, Medical Health
Contact Information:
Jeff May
Director of Development
Where Hope Lives
Email: jmay@wherehopelives.org
Phone: 602-318-7626
JoAnna Shipe
Director of Corporate Initiatives
Where Hope Lives
Email: joanna@wherehopelives.org
Phone: 770-712-6409
Brian and Skye Steele
Chief Executive Officer / Founder
Email: brianandskye@wherehopelives.org
Phone: 480-296-9179
Pastor Larrie Fraley, Skye Steele, Pastor Brian Steele
In 2008, Pastor Larrie Fraley, Skye Steele, and Pastor Brian Steele came together to launch what today has become the Where Hope Lives program, a powerful initiative aimed at addressing the issue of human trafficking, particularly focusing on the vulnerable girls in Phoenix, Arizona and communities across the United States. Their collective passion for making a difference and bringing hope to those who had fallen victim to this heinous crime was the driving force behind the program’s inception.
The founders shared a deep commitment to combating human trafficking, an issue that had been largely overlooked at the time, especially in Phoenix. With a shared vision of creating a safe haven for trafficked girls, they embarked on a journey that would change countless lives.
The Where Hope Lives program initially began as a grassroots effort, with the founders leveraging their connections within the local community and church networks to raise awareness and generate support. Their dedication and unwavering commitment to the cause soon began to attract the attention of like-minded individuals and churches in the area.
Over the years, the program experienced remarkable growth and expansion, thanks to the generous support of churches and individuals who recognized the urgent need to combat human trafficking and provide a lifeline for its victims. These supporters rallied behind Where Hope Lives, providing financial assistance, resources, and volunteering their time to ensure its success.
In 2005 Dream City Church founded the Phoenix Dream Center which became a national leader in serving teen and young adult survivors of human trafficking.
In 2009 Christ Church of the Valley spearheaded the foundation of StreetLightUSA which became a national leader serving child and teen survivors of human trafficking.
In 2023, as if guided by a divine hand, they merged their efforts officially, uniting under the banner “Where Hope Lives.” This new alliance was a testament to their unwavering commitment to the cause. Together, they are an unstoppable force, a testament to the power of faith and love in the face of evil.
But “Where Hope Lives” doesn’t stop at the borders of Phoenix.
As God had orchestrated their union, they felt the call to spread their message and their process of hope to other communities around the world. They now equip these communities with best practices, resources, and the unwavering spirit of hope that had driven them to success. They knew that the battle against human trafficking was not confined to one city; it was a global fight, and together they could make a profound impact.
Only God knows what the future holds, but one thing is certain – it is filled with Hope…
The objectives and the missions of StreetLightUSA and the Phoenix Dream Center align at the point in which both are an expressly Christ-centered approach to combatting human trafficking. The heart and the passion and the vision comes from a Christ-centered response, and all roads of redemption lead to the children and young adults who are being served walking in a healthy personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Here are some of the strategic objectives for Where Hope Lives.
How does the transition contribute to the overall impact and sustainability of the effort?
By aligning the Phoenix Dream Center and StreetLightUSA vision and resources we are able to:
Where Hope Lives is a dba of City Help Inc of Phoenix and is committed to helping children and young adult human trafficking survivors heal.
How can a 13-year-old girl put the pieces of a broken life back together? Is there any hope of her childhood being restored? What does a day in her life as she heals look like? Sign up to join with these girls as they fight for the restoration of their lives.
