Gigis House Inc

TO PROVIDE A SAFE HOME FOR TEENAGE GIRLS 19 AND UNDER WHO ARE VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING. PROVIDING VICTIMS SUPPORTIVE SERVICE, RESOURCES, AND RESTORATION. REDUCING HOMELESSNESS, BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM, AND INDEPENDENCE TO ENSURE THEY CAN THRIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

GIGIS HOUSE, THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUAL DONORS, CONSTRUCTED AND OPENED A 10 BEDROOM HOME IN 2018 TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR GIRLS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICIKING. FROM INCEPTION (MAY 2018) TO JUNE 2021, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SERVE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE COME TO US THROUGH BOTH PRIVATE AND STATE PLACEMENT. OUR RESIDENTS COME FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND HAVE INCLUDED GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 12. CURRENTLY WE ARE ONE OF FOUR HOMES IN GEORGIA SERVING COMMERCIAL SEXUALLY EXPLOITED CHILDREN WITH LESS THAN 40 AVAILABLE PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. WE RECEIVE CALLS EVERY DAY FOR PLACEMENT. THROUGH JUNE 2021, WE HAVE ACCEPTED RESIDENTS FROM 30 COUNTIES WITHIN GEORGIA AND SERVED ONE RESIDENT FROM OUT OF STATE. GIGIS HOUSE OFFERS SO MUCH MORE THAN A SAFE HOME TO EACH OF THE GIRLS COMING THROUGH OUR PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP TRAUMA THERAPY WITH A LICENSED THERAPIST, MENTORING, LIFE SKILLS AND DAILY SELF-CONFIDENCE BUILDING ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE SEEN THESE GIRLS TRANSFORM FROM BROKEN AND FEELING UNLOVED AND NOT WORTHY TO THRIVING INDEPENDENT YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE READY TO CONQUER THE WORLD. AS THE GIRLS ARE ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM, WE ASSESS THEIR EDUCATION LEVELS AND PROVIDE HOME-SCHOOLING. SINCE MANY OF THE GIRLS ENTERING THE PROGRAM TEST WELL BELOW THEIR GRADE LEVEL, WE STRUCTURE OUR HOME SCHOOLING TO ALLOW THEM TO CATCH-UP TO THEIR EXPECTED GRADE LEVEL OR DEPENDING ON THE INDIVIDUAL GIRLS NEED WE OFFER PREPARATION FOR GED. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO PROVIDE GED PREPARATION, WHICH ALLOWS THE GIRLS TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WITH OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE HOME. SINCE BEGINNING THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE WITNESSED GIRLS GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, OBTAIN THEIR GED, ATTEND AND GRADUATE FROM CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANCE SCHOOL AND EVEN GO OFF TO COLLEGE. SOME OF THESE GIRLS ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL. THROUGH OUR PROGRAM THE GIRLS HAVE SHARED MANY FIRST-TIME LIFE EXPERIENCES. OUR TEAM IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING THESE GIRLS DEVELOP PRACTICAL AND EMOTIONAL LIFE SKILLS SO THAT THEY CAN SURVIVE AS HEALTH ADULTS AND BUILD THE FUTURES THEY DESERVE.

RESALE THERAPY IS A RETAIL STORE THAT PROVIDES INCOME TO THE AGENCY BY SELLING GENTLY USED CLOTHING AND HOME GOODS. THE STORE IS USED TO PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL THERAPY FOR RESIDENTS. THE STORE WAS CLOSED DURING FISCAL YEAR 2021 DUE TO LOW SALES DURING THE PANDEMIC.