In addition to the two homes donated that will soon house survivors, Eric Hamilton also donated this lodge so Blazing Hope could have space for on-site counseling, day camp activities and other events.
The donated homes come fully stocked and ready for residents. Blazing Hope Director David Haggard expects the homes to be ready to house survivors by January, once water and electrical preparations are complete.A major donation to the Blazing Hope Ranch has accelerated the nonprofit’s goal of providing counseling and rehabilitative services to survivors of human trafficking.
David Haggard, the head of Blazing Hope, said the organization recently received two refurbished four-bedroom modular homes that will be able to house survivors by the beginning of the new year, as well as a lodge to house activities, classes and counseling in the future.
The donation came from Eric Hamilton, the president of Vanderbilt Lending and Mortgage in Maryville, Tenn.
“This would have cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars to re-create what we’ve been given,” said Haggard.
Hamilton said he wasn’t aware of the prevalence of human trafficking in Tennessee until he received a letter from Haggard and decided to visit him and the ranch, located north of Sale Creek.