Our hope is to show Dominican youth their true hope.
How Tree House Haven’s safe home and healing ministry began – and our vision for the future.
How the simple act of caring for kids creates a big impact.
Rescuing vulnerable youth is life-changing.
For the youth. And for those who serve.
Jennifer and Luis Lopez are a couple motivated to serve.
Back in 2007, while Luis served a 15-month deployment to Afghanistan Jennifer and their son served in a boys’ orphanage in the Luis’ birthplace, the Dominican Republic.
While apart, God tied their marriage knot tighter. In the DR, Jennifer’s heart to love orphans grew softer. In Afghanistan, after witnessing a school building explode with innocent children inside, Luis’s commitment to protect children grew stronger.
Jennifer and Luis realized caring for the boys at the orphanage was more than a mission trip. It was their calling.
As they learned more about the Dominican Republic’s broken systems, they were alarmed.
● Poverty is prevalent
● Prostitution is legal
● Marginalized youth are often trafficked
What’s worse is birth certificates are rare among the nation’s poorest. Obtaining one’s documents is an arduous and expensive process. Yet without this identifying piece of paper, you can’t continue an education past 7th grade or hold down a job for more than 90 days.
This system feeds a cycle of poverty. This system makes youth vulnerable to abuse, trafficking, and a hopeless future.
Since 2009, the Lopez family has been taking in teens who need a safe home. In their heart, Jennifer and Luis count these youth as sons and daughters along with their biological son and daughter.
Their dedication was recognized by Luis’ employer, Exelon. In 2020, Luis was awarded with the Employee Volunteer Program Merit Award, along with a donation to support their beloved DR young people.
Why Tree House Haven? Indeed there are many organizations that offer protection and help for young people.
We offer those essentials – and more. Everything done at Tree House Haven is meant to show kids their value in Christ. Through relationship with their Savior, they can end the cycle of broken families, homelessness, and indignity. They matter to Him!
A home and healing are things anyone can help provide. It is simple. And so life-changing for a Dominican youth. They matter!
The Foundation Tree House Haven is Built Upon:
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
The Dominican Republic’s problems are staggering.
Dominican youth need rescuing from this hopeless cycle.
children under the age of 15 are without parental care.
of births are not officially reported to the public authorities. Birth certificates are not common among the poor.
Student dropout rate before 8th grade. Producing a birth certificate is required for high school education.
Friend, you can make a difference. Here’s how.
Home
We rescue youth who have been abused, neglected, and trafficked.
We provide a safe home, one for boys and another for girls. We give our youth clothing, food, their own bed, an education, love and support so they can flourish.
Healing
Hope
When the time for independence comes, our young adults move out in pairs to continue living in supportive Christian community. The circle continues!
Tree House Haven has been featured in these publications and events.
“I feel love and support here. I missed this for a long time. I hope, with the Lord’s favor, to keep learning much more. And everything we can learn here my siblings and I can put it into practice with the same enthusiasm and love we have been shown. We can encourage other teens, draw them close to Christ, and help them in their personal life.”
Tree House Haven...
Live out your hope in Christ when you help a Dominican youth live theirs.