Igniting Hope, Healing Hearts 

A beacon of safety, 24/7, against trafficking, violence, and homelessness.  

Estimated 27.6 million victims worldwide.

Sex trafficking is the second-largest criminal industry in the country and affects every age, gender, race, and social class.

Hundreds of thousands of children are trafficked each year in the U.S.

The average age a person is first trafficked is 12 years old.

40% of trafficked children are sold by a family member.

99% of trafficked victims are never identified, of the 1% who are identified, few receive care.

The United States is the #1 consumer of human trafficking in the World.

Human Trafficking is a $150 billion dollar industry,

80% of survivors end up being re-victimized if they do not have a safe place to go.

Mission Statement

Our Mission is to empower youth and young adults who have experienced crisis, including trafficking, sexual violence, homelessness, and economic hardships by providing a sanctuary of safety, support, and transformation.

Prevent

Empower

Advocate

Restore

We believe it takes a village and partner with individuals, Law Enforcement, Social Services, Agencies, Families and Communities to END cycles of violence and foster healing, create stability and lasting change.

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Our Vision

We envision a world where every young person emerging from crisis- be it trafficking, homelessness, or other hardship- is met with opportunity, support, and love. In this vision, youth are not defined by their challenges but empowered to break cycles and find a path to empowerment, stability, and joy.


We accomplish our vision through:

Prevention

Crisis Intervention

Case Management

Trauma-Informed Therapy

Assessment

Advocacy

Outreach

The Problem in Trafficking: Human Traffickers often target youth in foster care, runaways, or those facing homelessness. We Meet Youth And Young Adults Where They Are And Offer A Different Path. The Asher Drop-In Services Includes:

Housing Assistance

Case Management

Life Skills

Clothing/Food

Counseling

Asher Drop In Center

The Asher Drop In Center provides a safe place to meet the basic needs of youth and young adults ages 16-22 who are at risk for homlessness, in crisis situations or need a space to decompress. We have a strengths based framework with therapists on site who are certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TFCBT). The Drop In Center offers access to food, clothing, and hygiene items in addition to a shower and laundry facilities. This space provides youth and young adults a positive, fun and restful environment to escape the elements for a short time, rest and refocus. Our goal is to divert youth to stable housing, employment, education and wellbeing. The Asher House is NOT a shelter.


The Asher Youth Center encourages our youth in their educational and career goals. They can escape to a quiet area to do their homework, research or apply for a job with mentors present to help if needed. Printing is also available upon request.

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The Solution:

Asher Drop In Center (ADC)

The Asher Drop-In Center is a sanctuary where youth and young adults ages 16-24 who are in crisis can find immediate safety and support. We employ trauma-informed best practice services.


Our goal is to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of youth via education on trafficking, healthy relationships, boundaries and more. We provide field trips and events throughout the year to foster lasting relationships.


WHY??? 

Certain populations are more vulnerable to trafficking, violence, and homelessness than others.

The ADC focuses on these at-risk youth, including those who are couch surfing, victims of crime, or facing other crisis situations. We use a strengths-based approach, supported by on-site therapists certified in TF-CBT, to empower and heal from often times complex trauma. 


We also offer practical services like snack bags, showers, hygiene kits, lunches, and baby necessities, alongside critical emotional support through counseling. We believe in a holistic approach to change, one that nurtures both the immediate needs and long-term aspirations of every youth we serve.



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Asher Assessment And Treatment Center (AATC)

The AATC collaborates with many agencies using trauma informed and evidence based practices. The center offers evaluations, assessments, short-term and crisis counseling, mentorships and referrals to identify root causes of trauma. The AATC provides a comprehensive plan to help our youth and young adults meet their goals while establishing stability to ensure a promising future.

AATC Collaborators & Partners

Our Impact

What is trafficking?

Human trafficking occurs any time a person is forced, tricked, or manipulated into providing labor or sexual service for someone else's financial gain. Or, anytime a child is involved in a commercial sex act, whether or not there is someone directly forcing then to do so.


Sex trafficking is when someone is forced, lied to, threatened or coerced into performing any sexual services in exchange for something of value. Commercial sex can be a sex act in exchange for drugs, a place to stay, or even something like clothes.


The Facts:

  • Trafficking is a multi-billion dollar criminal industry with America being the number 1 consumer in the world. 
  • There is an estimated 50 million victims of human trafficking globally.
  • Approximately, 25-47% of trafficking is by a caregiver.
  • It is estimated that 60% of trafficking victims have a history of involvement in the child welfare system.
  • 80% of trafficking victims return to their abuser.
  • Trafficking is consistently underreported due to its covert nature.



Why Here?

Trafficking happens in every state. No state is an exception.


Greenville, South Carolina has the highest number of cases in the state.


Texas is #2 in trafficking, and our goal is to maintain a presence in both states.


Will you partner with us?

We cannot continue to look the other way and hope for change or healing to occur.

No one person or agency can do this alone. We all have a part to play in ending this horrendous evil in our world. If not you then who?


Our Team

Ellisa Allen

DIRECTOR/FOUNDER

Ellisa Allen (LCSW) obtained her bachelors from MSU and her MSW from the University of Alabama. She is passionate to prevent and end trafficking. She loves helping people and longs to see them restored and thriving in life. She has worked with children, youth and young adults for over a decade in the field of social work as a case manager, advocate and counselor. She specializes in trauma counseling and crisis response. She is certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) an evidenced based treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma. She is a certified Chaplain, and she also has worked alongside the Fort Worth PD in CAPA and Anderson County Sheriff’s Department in crisis response. She is a mom to four amazing children and has been married to her best friend since 2009.

Olivia Messinger

Director of Case Management

Olivia Messinger is the Director of Case Management at Asher House since August 2022. She is a native of Anderson and loves her hometown. Olivia is certified in Mental Health First Aid and Ministry Safe. She has also attended the 2023 Global Exchange Conference where she was trained by experts in the field of addiction and mental health. She has a huge passion for prevention services and helping others heal from past traumas. Her outgoing personality and attention to details make her a perfect fit for Asher House. She is happily married to Eric and a proud dog mom to Gus.

Our Board

Ellisa Allen

President

Asher House President

Jessica Bagwell

VICE PRESIDENT

Owner Social Suites

Nadeen Suarez

SECRETARY / TREASURER

 Graham Allen Ministries

Sheriff Chad McBride

Member

Sheriff Anderson County

Mary Catherine Taylor

Member

Prosecutor

Graham Allen

MEMBER

Business Owner

SGT. Jon Velez

member

Anderson County Sheriff's Office


Chelsey Tench

Member

Associate Director of Graduate Admission and Advising

Reach Out! We’ll Be Happy To Address Any Questions Or Concerns

Contact Us

Get Help Now

Call or Text Us 662-364-0465

or

The National Human Trafficking Hotline

 1-888-373-7888 (BEFREE)


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Donate

Your generous, tax deductible donation to The Asher House Inc will change the lives of youth and young adults in crisis and provide hope, security, and stability for the future.

Donate

Please consider donating towards our Asher Safe House Building Fund to provide emergent housing and wraparound services to victims of violence.

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