The Refuge for DMST

the refuge for dmst

The Refuge Ranch will be the first long-term, holistic residential care facility in Texas for female survivors of DMST, ages 11-17. DMST, which stands for Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, is a wide-spread, horrifying crime that exploits millions of innocent people globally, including thousands of young girls in the United States alone, each year.

There are 10 cottages that each house four girls and a house mom and are intentionally designed to provide safety, security, and a sense of family. Other residences include The Guesthouse for mentors and family members, The Haven to welcome girls to The Refuge, and The Taylor Home as the culmination of their stay. The Studio is the social hive of the campus, where girls recreate, exercise, and relax in between classes and therapy at the Creative Arts Center. The Chapel is the cornerstone of the grounds, located near The Administration Building and House Mothers’ Lodge. The buildings are strategically placed to create outdoor fellowship spaces that reinforce a sense of community and a connection to the surrounding peaceful and pastoral setting. The Garden and Equine Therapy Centers provide further therapeutic opportunities to connect with nature and the surrounding landscape. Each girl will have her own plan for restoration, unique to her age, situation, and needs.  Thus, the girls are provided with varying degrees of private and communal spaces to gradually reintroduce them back into society.