Dorothy's House

Dorothy’s House was once a rundown house and a beautiful goal to help survivors of human trafficking in Iowa. Led by our founder, the community helped transform the house into a safe, supportive space for survivors. We first opened our doors to residents in January 2016. Now, we offer safe housing, access to basic needs, therapeutic services and a wide range of resources to remove barriers survivors face and foster community engagement.

Our assessment tools help identify each participant’s support needs. Then they begin our curriculum, Practice Makes Purpose; Turning Your Wounds Into Wisdom. Programming and services that volunteers help us provide include (but are not limited to): non-traditional therapeutic programming (equine, writer’s workshop, gardening, art and crafts), life-skills coaching, bus training, nutrition and wellness, financial literacy training, meal planning/preparation, and recreational activities (bike riding, knitting, music lessons, game night, etc.)

In September 2024, our new Crisis Services Program opened its doors - offering women seeking safety 2 hours - 20 days of temporary housing while they heal and build a plan for their next step. We are proud to be the first organization in Iowa providing a full continuum of care to trafficking survivors - from crisis to restoration to transitional housing.