ELORA – Elora House has come a long way since its interrupted beginning back in March 2020.
The facility, which helps women escaping sex trafficking to overcome their trauma, learn some life skills and re-integrate into society, was only open a few days before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
As a congregate care setting, suddenly its allowable capacity was cut in half.
Almost three years later, the organization is becoming known in the community.
It has been the recipient of donations from chapters of the 100 Women Who Care groups and others, and it has moved into a bigger home that can accommodate up to eight women.
This has enabled Elora House to begin offering the stage two recovery program.
Executive director Luisa Krause explained stage one is an eight-week program where the women can rest and start to feel secure again.
Stage two allows the women to stay for a year and take a number of therapies, to continue schooling, learn to build trusting relationships and, most importantly, learn to have faith in themselves.
“After eight weeks they are doing great,” Krause said in an interview.
“But if they just go back (to their former lives), they have no friends, no mentors. They don’t have anyone to lean on, and you need people to lean on.”
She continued, “They experience so much trauma, they often can’t go back home.
“Some just don’t have a community of support. So that’s the vision of stage two. We help them rebuild their life and get ready to enter the world.
“We want them not just surviving but thriving.”
Elora House receives no government funding. It relies 100% on donations to cover rent, food and materials, and staff salaries.
“It’s hard work,” Krause said. “It’s rewarding, but emotionally, it’s hard.
“You get attached to the girls; you want the best for them. And it’s very difficult hearing their stories.”
Its next big fundraiser is Coldest Night of the Year, on Feb. 25 beginning at 4pm.
Teams of walkers raise pledges and then walk the Grandway Raceway in Elora followed by chili and hot apple cider. The goal is to raise $100,000.
“It’s a big goal,” Krause acknowledged, adding Elora House’s operating costs are about $30,000 a month.
To register, visit https://cnoy.org/location/elora.
Krause said Elora House could also use donations of clothes – hoodies, yoga pants – in all sizes, “but what we really need is partners.”
Anyone interested in that can email elorahouse@ercf.ca.
