The Gaudiz Sanctuary
Rebuilding Lives. Restoring Families. Healing Communities.
A lifetime of surviving adversity taught me how critical safe spaces are and how hard they can be to find. In August 2022, I moved to Michigan to rebuild my life, and this state quickly became my sanctuary.
This past June, I was honored to receive an Official State Tribute from Michigan State Senator Jim Runestad. That recognition represents every survivor who fought for a fresh start. Now, we are turning that mission into a lasting reality right here at home.
Our Vision
The Gaudiz Sanctuary is a trauma-informed residential and agricultural sanctuary designed for individuals and families aging out of foster care, escaping domestic violence, human trafficking, and chronic homelessness. Our phased, self-sustaining model bridges critical gaps in traditional shelter systems:
- Pet-Inclusive Transitional Housing: No survivor should ever have to choose between their safety and a beloved animal. We keep families and their pets together.
- Specialized & Monitored Childcare: Early childhood and neurodiversity support, including autism-informed care, paired with encrypted, parent-only live monitoring for complete transparency and peace of mind.
- Therapeutic Agriculture & Animal Care: An on-site working farm offering service animal training, trauma recovery, life-skills education, and purposeful community work.
- Pathways to Independence: Long-term stabilization through financial literacy, GED completion, FAFSA/college enrollment, and career placement to foster true, lasting self-reliance.
Phase 1: Build With Us
Moving from vision to groundbreaking requires dedicated community partners, professional expertise, and grassroots momentum. We are actively seeking:
- Board Members & Campaign Leads: Experienced professionals in non-profit and faith-based organization compliance (501(c)(3) and 508(c)(1)(A) structures), grant writing, GoFundMe campaigns and campaign management.
- Land & Facility Leads: Acreage, decommissioned school/church campuses, or rural properties in Michigan suitable for multi-use residential, agricultural, and animal rescue zoning.
- Community & Civic Partners: Law enforcement agencies, healthcare professionals, educators, and legal advocates dedicated to proactive community outreach and trauma-informed support.
We cannot simply talk about systemic change; we have to build it together.
“Faith without works is dead.” — James 2:17
Get Involved
Public announcement: 08/28/2026