At age 17, Elicha, a victim of the immoral practice of child marriage and a survivor of international child sexual exploitation, arrived in the United States of America.

While fleeing Europe, she arrived in America with one goal; to find peace. However, after arriving in America, she was immediately faced with homelessness and had no where to sleep that night. A stranger paid for her shelter at a motel for the night.

The next morning, she began her journey to finding permanent housing but being a minor with ‘ward of the state’ on her ID, without money, a job nor legal immigration status…she was denied from every place. Once safe shelter was found, healing from nearly two decades of trauma could finally begin.

For the past 20 years in America, Elicha has sought to ensure that no other child or teen ever has a delay in their healing journey just because they are unable to find safe shelter.