Phoenix, AZ
In the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, two of the valley’s largest churches stood tall, each representing their own call to follow Jesus and serve the Phoenix Area, and both driven by a deep sense of purpose to serve Christ.
Dream City Church and Christ Church of the Valley were (and are) beacons of hope in the city, each with its unique congregation and mission. For years, they existed side by side, separated only by distance and the mission God had them on. However, in a world filled with darkness, an unrelenting evil called human trafficking, God began to birth out “something new” to unite them against a common foe.
The problem of human trafficking had plagued Phoenix for decades, leaving a trail of shattered lives and broken dreams. Children and young adults were being stolen from their families, their innocence robbed, and their futures destroyed. The situation was dire, and the city cried out for heroes. One local police lieutenant took it upon herself to write letters to Dream City and Christ Church – asking, begging for help.
In a divine twist of fate, leaders from both churches began to respond to the call to combat this pervasive evil. At first, there was uncertainty about how to best fight human trafficking, no one had ever done it before at this scale and in this city. But as the gravity of the situation weighed on their hearts, it became clear that God had a bigger plan in mind.
Over the course of years, pastors and volunteers from Dream City Church and Christ Church of the Valley began working together humbly, setting aside different callings and merging gifts to focus on the greater good. They realized that it was their duty to shine a light into the darkest corners of the city and rescue those who had been ensnared by the sinister forces of human trafficking.
For a decade, the two churches tirelessly worked side by side, each bringing its unique strengths to the fight.
Dream City Church’s extensive community outreach programs through the Phoenix Dream Center campus and Christ Church of the Valley’s laser-focused StreetLightUSA campus complemented each other perfectly. Separately, they had forged the largest human trafficking recovery operation the world had ever seen, saving countless lives of children and young adults.
Where Hope Lives is a Christ-centered nonprofit dedicated to being the world leader in providing comprehensive healing and recovery services for girls aged 4 to 26 who have endured human trafficking. Committed to excellence, we set the standard in best practices, guiding survivors to reclaim their lives with dignity, hope, and faith.
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…
Where Hope Lives is the “program operator” that runs the staffing, the programming, the counseling, therapy, and all of the care that the girls need at the 3 different campuses. All of the major expenses for helping the girls heal are covered by Where Hope Lives.
The Phoenix Dream Center is the “campus location” where Where Hope Lives operates a human trafficking recovery program to care for girls and young women who are aged 17 to 26 years old. Some of the campus costs like insurance, permits, and licensing still fall to the Phoenix Dream Center, but all of the major expenses for helping the girls heal are covered by Where Hope Lives.
StreetLightUSA is the “campus location” where Where Hope LIves operates a human trafficking recovery program for teen girls who are between the ages of 13 and 17 years old. Some of the campus costs like insurance, permits, and licensing still fall to the StreetLightUSA, but all of the major expenses for helping the girls heal are covered by Where Hope Lives.
Natalie’s House is the “campus location” where Where Hope Lives operates a human trafficking recovery program for children who are between the ages of 4 and 13 years old. Some of the campus costs like insurance, permits, and licensing still fall to the Natalie’s House, but all of the major expenses for helping the girls heal are covered by Where Hope Lives.
The nonprofit business name for Where Hope Lives is City Help Inc of Phoenix dba Where Hope Lives. City Help Inc of Phoenix is a Platinum Rated GuideStar nonprofit (the highest rating). You may see “City Help” on some of your receipts for Where Hope Lives or on some tax credit listings.
City Help is not a new entity. It’s been running operations for these ministry entities since 2002.
City Help’s non profit EIN tax ID number is 86-1001113 and the AZ Qualifying Charitable Organization number is 20061.
Yes! Giving to the Phoenix Dream Center, StreetLightUSA or Natalie’s house will help cover the campus-specific costs like insurance, licensing, and permits. But it will not help cover the direct care costs to help the girls.
If you want to give in a way that helps the girls more directly, giving to Where Hope Lives helps cover those types of direct care costs.
We’re proud to be a Platinum (the highest) rated GuideStar nonprofit. See our GuideStar Platinum rating HERE.
GuideStar profiles are the most exhaustive, most secure, most accurate reflection of a nonprofit’s commitment to transparency. GuideStar also updates our profile within 15 minutes of new information being added so donors and supporters have the very latest and most up-to-date information.
We have not had the same experience with Charity Navigator.
Charity Navigator updates to our profile often take months and some changes have taken over a year to reflect in our profile.
Charity Navigator also greatly limits our profile due to the sensitive nature of the services we provide to children who have been sexually exploited. These limitations keep key and critical information from being shared to our donors and supporters.
While we appreciate the added privacy, we do believe there is a way to provide transparency to our donors while also protecting the privacy of the precious children we serve.
Charity Navigator does not offer that option.
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:
Politics
While we deeply respect and value diverse viewpoints, we want to make it clear that our primary focus is on the well-being of the children we serve. Our mission is to provide support and resources to those in need, and we believe that political perspectives should not overshadow this essential goal. Engaging in discussions that prioritize political opinions over the needs of the children we serve detracts from our core mission. So if you’re the type of person that puts politics above helping children, then we’re probably not the right nonprofit for you to be associated with.
However, in our journey to fight for the children we serve, the Phoenix Dream Center, StreetLightUSA and Where Hope Lives have hosted dozens of politicians over the last 20 years in an effort to educate them on the importance of their role in the fight against human trafficking and homelessness. We have hosted Democrats, Republicans, Independents and a few peculiar cross breeds in between. But our role is never to help them get elected. It is always and only to help educate them about the issues.
There is SO MUCH MORE that elected politicians could be doing to stop human trafficking and homelessness that they are not. Regardless of party, we will always fight for more support for the precious people we serve.
Sexworkers and Legalized Prostitution
As a nonprofit dedicated to ending the exploitation of children and women, we want to make our position unequivocally clear: we cannot and do not endorse any form of legalized prostitution. Our commitment to combating exploitation is rooted in a deep understanding of the profound harm that such practices inflict on women and vulnerable populations.
Extensive research and numerous studies have demonstrated that legalized prostitution exacerbates harm to women. These studies reveal that legalizing prostitution often leads to increased rates of violence, exploitation, and abuse against women, as well as a dangerous escalation in demand that can result in the further exploitation of younger women and children. The evidence shows that rather than providing protection, legalized prostitution can perpetuate cycles of abuse and create environments where the exploitation of vulnerable individuals becomes more normalized.
Our organization stands firmly against any practices that contribute to the exploitation and abuse of individuals. We are dedicated to advocating for and supporting policies that protect and empower women and children, and we remain committed to working towards a world where such exploitation is unequivocally condemned and eradicated.
The Border and Unaccompanied Minors
We are alarmed and incensed about the recent United States Homeland Security Management Alert that exposes that over 300,000 children have been unnecessarily put at risk of human trafficking and abuse due to the policies governing how to handle unaccompanied children crossing the border.
In their own words: We cannot monitor all of the children released from our custody after they cross the border, and we have no assurance that these kids are safe from trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor. – U.S. Department of Homeland Security
As a nonprofit dedicated to the safety and well-being of all children, we must address an urgent issue concerning border policies and their impact on child safety. We recognize and deeply understand that there is overwhelming evidence indicating that open border policies can pose significant risks to children, including an increased vulnerability to human trafficking and sex trafficking.
Recent reports, including the 2024 Management Alert from Homeland Security, provide alarming evidence of these risks. The report highlights a severe crisis at the southern border, revealing that an estimated 300,000 children are now at heightened risk of human trafficking. This data underscores the urgent need for effective measures to protect children from such exploitation.
Our commitment to safeguarding children means that we must address and advocate for solutions that prevent their exploitation. The evidence is clear: the current border situation exacerbates risks and vulnerabilities, making it crucial to address these issues with urgency and compassion.
We are dedicated to working towards solutions that ensure the safety and protection of every child. Our efforts focus on creating safe environments and advocating for policies that prevent trafficking and exploitation, so that every child can grow up free from harm.
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.
