About us
Brigid’s House of Hope is a long term, transitional safe house for survivors of Human Trafficking in New Hampshire and surrounding areas.
Human trafficking is a social issue that affects all communities in many ways. Brigid’s House of Hope supports identified survivors of trafficking and assists in transitioning them to thoughtful community members. Working with members of New Hampshire Collaborative Task Force on Human Trafficking, Brigid’s House of Hope provides the only housing specifically designed to support survivors of trafficking in New Hampshire.
Many people think human trafficking does not happen in New Hampshire but the Task Force regularly receives referrals for case management or law enforcement. Brigid’s House of Hope is the only place in New Hampshire for survivors to obtain specialized, supportive, and safe housing. The need is great, not only for the survivors, but also our communities and our State.
Brigid’s would like to discuss with you how we can partner to support these victims and re-establish survivors as successful community members.
Board of Directors
There are current board openings. Please contact us if you are interested, and share these opportunities with relevant friends and colleagues.
Heather Estremera, President/Chair
Attorney
Mike Bordes, Vice President/Chair
New Hampshire State Representative, Belknap County
Travis O’Hara, Treasurer
Profitability & Growth Advisor, KJE CPA, PLLC
New Hampshire State Representative, Belknap County
Jessica Long, Secretary
Health Services Specialist, Southern NH Services, Nashua NH
Nichole DaRosa, Trustee
Executve Director, Thrive New England
Alicia Gardner, Trustee
Educator, Parent, Homemaker
Cristina Oliver, Trustee
Amirah House
Jenny King, Trustee
Carolyn Moran, Trustee
Jennifer Durant, Trustee
Melissa LaRocque, Trustee
Anthony O’Shaughnessy, Trustee
Michael Gilbert, Trustee
Staff
Bethany Cottrell, Executive Director/Founder
Ashley, Resource Development Manager
Meghan, Case Manager
Stephanie, Case Manager
Our Name
Brigid is a Gaelic/Irish name, meaning “power, strength, vigor, virtue”.
Saint Brigid of Kildare is one of Ireland’s patron saints. Brigid herself was born into slavery. Brigid performed miracles, including healing and feeding the poor. According to one tale, as a child, she once gave away her mother’s entire store of butter. The butter was then replenished in answer to Brigid’s prayers .[12] Around the age of ten, she was returned as a household servant to her father, where her habit of charity led her to donate his belongings to anyone who asked. Her father was so annoyed with her that he took her to the King to sell her. While her father was talking to the king, Brigid gave away his jeweled sword to a beggar to barter it for food to feed his family. The king recognized her holiness and convinced her father to grant his daughter her freedom. Brigid created many abbeys, monasteries and schools.