Life & Work with Johanna Spille

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Johanna Spille.

Johanna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 2016, I began to learn more about trafficking.

I started to realize trafficking was not only here in the US but also in Colorado. Just a short time later, a friend of my daughters reached out. She had been trafficked and was looking for some help. A few friends and I stepped in to help with a few basic needs and provide emotional support. We helped her get in contact with law enforcement and reported her trafficking.

Shortly after that, I began to get in contact with another survivor and then another one and another one. I began to see the large need for organizations that were willing to be the boots on the ground and help the victims. So, I quit my job and started Covered Colorado while working at a local homeless mission.

In January 2023, we opened Covered House. Covered House is a 6- 8-month residential program for women ages 18 and up. The program offers evidence-based programming to support clients with a dual diagnosis who would benefit from a safe and stable environment to aid in long-term recovery.

The program is structured to provide each client with a multidisciplinary team, seeking to meet each client where she is and give support tailored to that client in a holistic approach that aids in whole-person healing. Since 2017, we have worked with almost 400 survivors. Through our program, we have helped 137 heal, become self-sufficient, and get their lives back.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Funding has been a challenge from the beginning. Securing consistent funding to sustain operations, expand programs, and provide essential services can be an uphill battle.

Finding staff members who possess both the expertise in trauma-informed care and the heart to serve survivors can be very challenging. Also, as caregivers, maintaining healthy boundaries while providing empathetic support is a delicate balance.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Covered House, we recognize that survivors of trafficking bear the weight of significant trauma. Their healing journey is intricate, requiring both time and professional counseling. Our mission is clear: to guide survivors toward self-sufficiency.

Trauma Informed Care: We approach survivors with compassion and sensitivity. Trauma-informed care is at the heart of our services. Understanding the impact of trauma allows us to create a safe and respectful environment.

Time for Healing: Healing cannot be rushed. Survivors need space to process their experiences, unravel emotions, and find resilience. Access to counseling—provided by skilled professionals—is essential. It becomes a cornerstone of their recovery.

Holistic Support: Becoming self-sufficient involves more than meeting basic needs. It’s about whole-person healing. Covered House offers a multidisciplinary approach, addressing physical, emotional, and mental well-being. We meet each survivor where she stands.

Empowerment and Independence: As survivors heal, they regain control over their lives. We equip them with tools, skills, and resources. Covered House becomes a stepping stone—a place where resilience is found, leading to self-sufficiency.

What does success mean to you?
When a survivor has done the hard work of healing, becomes self-sufficient, and doesn’t need us anymore. When she steps out alone, having found her voice and can now advocate for herself… that’s success.

Pricing:

• $30 a month to become a Covered Alliance Member.
• Alliance members receive special invitations to events, and they receive our newsletter, the Covered Connect, where we share stories of hope and plans for future projects.
• $30 a month to become a monthly donor
• Covered Colorado housing and program are no cost to survivors.  Our Alliance Members help us cover those costs. These incredible people are helping us make an impact in the community every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.coveredcolorado.org
• Instagram: @coveredcolorado
• Facebook: facebook.com/coveredcolorado
• Linkedin: @Covered Colorado

Image Credits
Alina Lynn Photography (https://www.alinalynnphotography.com/)