About us
Brigid’s House of Hope will be a long term, transitional safe house for survivors of Human Trafficking in New Hampshire and surrounding areas.
Human trafficking is a social issue that is affecting all communities in many ways. Brigid’s House of Hope intends to support identified survivors of trafficking and assist in transitioning them to thoughtful community members. Working with members of New Hampshire Collaborative Task Force on Human Trafficking, Brigid’s House of Hope will provide 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 has received over 50 referrals for case management or law enforcement. There is not currently anywhere 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, Chair
Attorney
Mike Bordes, Vice 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, Member
Executve Director, Thrive New England
Alicia Gardner, Member
Educator, Parent, Homemaker
Gennessis Vega, Member
Sales/Account Manager, Computer Security Products
Cristina Oliver, Member
Amirah House
Rich Cote, Member
Law enforcement
Demita Furnner, Member
Senior Director of Learning Resources, Southern New Hampshire University
Staff
Bethany Cottrell, Director/Founder
Hannah Essa, Program 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.
St. Brigid’s Cross is believed to protect a house from fire and evil, and is hung in many houses and kitchens today.
Prayer to St. Brigid
Brigid,
You were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious,
and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.
Brigid you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.
Strengthen what is weak within us.
Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body and spirit.
Amen.