Red Oak Hope

We’re excited to share that Red Oak Hope recently completed the 2026 Mission Advancement Academy through Good Works Community! 🎉

Over the past six months, members of our team and board have participated in leadership training, coaching, and collaborative learning to strengthen our organization and deepen our impact.

At the conclusion of the Academy, we had the opportunity to share what we learned with community leaders, donors, and fellow nonprofits. We were also honored to receive a $10,000 grant to support our mission of bringing freedom, hope, and restoration to survivors of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. 🧡

We are thankful for this opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with other nonprofit leaders in our community!

When someone reaches the top of our waitlist, the process doesn’t start with paperwork. It starts with a conversation. 🤍

Our Case Manager, Emily, connects with each potential client to learn more about their current situation, asking questions like “Are you in a safe place?” and “What are you hoping to gain from a program like ours?”, and helps them better understand what life at Red Oak Hope looks like.

If the program and client seem to be a good fit for one another, we schedule an interview designed to feel welcoming, safe, and relational, not transactional.

Pictured above is our Case Manager Emily and Restore Director Anne before an applicant interview. The interview itself is conversational and collaborative. We want clients to feel seen, heard, and empowered to ask questions along the way.

Because at Red Oak Hope, every part of the process matters, not just the outcome, but how someone feels while walking through it. Click the link in our bio to read more about what happens before a client moves in 💛

SAVE THE DATE ✨🧡

Join us on Sunday, September 20, 2026, for our 12th Annual A Night of Hope Gala as we celebrate another year of freedom, hope, and restoration for survivors of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Details:
🥂 Cocktail Hour | 5:30 PM
🍽️ Dinner & Program | 6:30 PM
📍 The Junior League of Austin

This evening is always such a meaningful time to gather together, reflect on the impact made over the past year, and look ahead to the work still to come. We cannot wait to celebrate with our incredible community!

We are also looking for sponsors and underwriters who are passionate about making restoration possible for survivors. These partnerships help make the evening impactful while directly supporting the mission year-round. DM us if you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring this year's gala!

More details are coming soon, but for now, mark your calendars! ✨

One of the questions we get asked most often is: “How do clients find you?”

The answer is more complex (and more meaningful) than most people realize.

What most people never see is that, long before move-in day, there were months of emails, phone calls, applications, referrals, waiting lists, safety planning, difficult decisions, and incredible bravery from a survivor choosing to take the next step.

This month, we’re taking you behind the scenes of what really happens before a client ever arrives, and sharing the intentionality, collaboration, and compassion that shape every step of our Transitional Housing Program. Click the link in our bio to learn more✨

Once a semester, we have the opportunity to sit in on the Modern Day Slavery course at The University of Texas and serve as judges for students’ final presentations focused on solutions to prevent and identify human trafficking and support victims. 🧡

This year, students presented thoughtful and innovative ideas, including:
• Preventing trafficking among foster and adopted youth through safe relationships, mentorship, and accessible resources
• Creating discreet, low-barrier ways for victims to safely make an outcry in hospital settings
• Preventing labor trafficking in Texas job recruitment by educating job seekers and identifying potentially exploitative opportunities

We are continually encouraged by the passion, creativity, and dedication these students bring to the anti-trafficking movement. Not only are they receiving meaningful education on the realities of human trafficking, but they are also actively imagining solutions that could create lasting change.

We’re grateful to be part of these conversations each semester and inspired by the next generation of advocates and leaders.

Well done to all the students who worked so hard and presented this year! ✨

This week, we had the honor of welcoming a new client into our Transitional Housing Program 🏡

Before she arrived, our staff and volunteers spent time thoughtfully preparing her space. They repainted the bathroom and picked out bedding and small room accents based on the client's preferences, creating an environment that feels safe, comfortable, and her own. Each detail was chosen with care, knowing that this moment matters.

Moving into this program is never just about housing. It is about stepping into something unknown, choosing to trust new people, and beginning a determined and beautiful journey toward healing.

We are so grateful to the team who made this transition possible, and we are deeply looking forward to walking alongside her. 🧡