Author: Bennett Alvaro

The Abhi Shah Foundation Annual Walkathon represents a wonderful partnership that we are incredibly proud to support this season. The Abhi Shah Foundation has continuously supported Sanctum House through generous donations and collaborative initiatives, and we are so excited for more opportunities to spread smiles and support one another in our shared mission. Check out the inspiring video message from their foundation team below to learn more about their incredible community impact!

Save the Date for our Wings of Courage 2026 Fundraiser taking place on October 22, 2026, at the Detroit Zoo. Please join us for this inspiring evening as we celebrate survivor recovery and strengthen the community partnerships that make our mission possible. Stay tuned for upcoming details regarding partnership packages and official registration as we prepare for this special night of purpose. Early Bird Tickets are Live!

 

Residents from Sanctum House recently enjoyed a magical, private evening at the Detroit Zoo. This special event, Nocturnal Adventures, provided survivors with an up-close look at the wildlife during a quiet, beautifully curated twilight experience. From a wonderful dinner and dusk tour to creative plant potting and roasting s’mores by the fire pit, it was a beautiful night of connection and community.

We are incredibly grateful for the support of the MASCO Foundation for making this unforgettable evening possible!

Want to see the highlights for yourself? Check out the full video below to share in our zoo adventure!

Ahead of our annual gardening, Sanctum House needed some tender loving care. After a long winter, the property required a thorough cleaning, repairing, and general maintenance. We love working with volunteers and professional partners, and this year, the M. Shapiro Real Estate Group stepped up to the plate. To help prepare Sanctum House for a beautiful summer, they brought over 40 members of their team to put in some serious elbow grease.

After a full day of hard work, Sanctum House is cleared of debris and ready for planting new growth. While the seasonal work isn’t complete yet, we are incredibly grateful to the M. Shapiro Group for laying this year’s foundation for a beautiful property. Even better, M. Shapiro plans to extend their support by investing in a brand-new set of commercial-grade power tools for the property. Their incredible support comes just in time for Christ Church Cranbrook’s annual gardening day in early June! Watch the video below to see how it went!

We are honored to be a recipient of the Impact 100 Oakland County grant. This award recognizes our commitment to providing comprehensive services to survivors of human trafficking. The funding from this grant allows us to continue to improve our program offering, ensuring that every individual who enters our doors has access to the resources necessary for a successful transition to independent living. We are grateful to the women of Impact 100 for their investment in our mission.

Members of the Sanctum House community recently visited our State Capitol to testify on essential legislative reforms. Our advocacy focuses on the significant hurdles to reintegration caused by criminal records acquired during the time an individual was being trafficked. By sharing their stories with representatives, survivors are leading the conversation on expungement and affirmative defense. We remain committed to working alongside legislators to ensure that the legal system supports recovery rather than creating permanent barriers to employment and housing.

Jennifer Baenziger, recently sat down with Lori Pinson for a special two-part segment of “Lori’s Stories” on Fox 2 Detroit. On Sunday December 14th’s episode of Lori’s Stories, Jennifer discussed the signs of human trafficking and its prevalence right here in Michigan. Jennifer and Lori explored the intensive, life-changing work that happens at Sanctum House every day. Check here for part 1 and part 2 of Lori’s Stories on youtube!

We are thrilled to be featured in Ann Arbor Family! Jennifer Baenziger sat down with Supriya Jalukar to shine a light on our mission and the incredible women we serve.

The author notes that “Sanctum House offers trauma-informed care through a structured residential program for women in a stable cognitive state…[helping] survivors build confidence, vocational skills, and healthy routines.”

We are so proud of the work we do, from our clinical therapy and substance abuse recovery programs to our partnerships with organizations like Forgotten Harvest.

We are grateful to Ann Arbor Family for helping to spread awareness about human trafficking and for highlighting our work. We invite you to read the full article to learn more about our program and the brave women we have the honor of supporting.

Read the full story here

Read the full article here

Survivors of human trafficking testified at the Michigan Capitol in support of legislative reforms that would provide greater protection and support for victims. The bills aim to expand expungement rules for trafficking survivors, provide affirmative defenses for crimes committed under duress, and reframe legal language to avoid victim-blaming terminology. The goal is to empower survivors, hold traffickers accountable, and create a more supportive legal system for those who have endured this horrific crime.

RingTrue works with Sanctum House survivors. Ringtrue offer employment to women recovering from Human Trafficking to make jewelry that is sold online and in stores around the Metro Detroit Michigan. Learn more in the story on Fox2Detroit or on the Ringtrue website.