Our Mission

Provide a home-like residence offering a safe and nurturing environment to empower women on a path to self-sufficiency.

Our Vision

We believe that victims and survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation deserve healing, dignity and opportunity.

Our Motto

We are guided by the declaration “Love Heals.” Love is the most powerful force for change in the world by building a movement that connects survivors, customers, advocates and communities.

Aspen Magdalene House was established to support the victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation while confronting the dark underbelly occurring on our Salt Lake City streets, in our motels and hotels, and online among our most vulnerable populations.

Modeled after Thistle Farms in Nashville, Tennessee, our goal is to provide long-term housing and holistic health care in a home-like residence for 8-10 women survivors of trafficking at a time. Participants will also gain valuable job and leadership skills through an intentionally designed or selected social enterprise program.

About Thisle Farms

History

After experiencing her father's death and subsequent child abuse when she was 5, Becca Stevens wanted to open a sanctuary for survivors offering a loving community. In 1997, Stevens opened Thistle Farms' first home as a sanctuary for five women survivors. Four years later, the women were making great strides in recovery but struggling to become financially self-sufficient due to employment barriers. Stevens gathered volunteers and her residents to solve this problem and began to make candles in a church basement. After that, Thistle Farms social enterprises were born.

Mission

Thistle Farms is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to helping survivors recover and heal from prostitution, trafficking and addiction. Thistle Farms does this by providing a safe place to live, a meaningful job and a lifelong sisterhood of support.

How Love Heals

Together, the community can heal by ensuring access to safe and supportive housing, financial independence and a community of support. Together, we rise against systems that commoditize, criminalize and abuse women.