Dr. Lois Lee: History & Impact
Early Days & Drop-in Center (1979–1989):
While Dr. Lee was a graduate student, she began research into prostitution in Los Angeles. She discovered alarming numbers of minors, many with fake IDs, pushed into prostitution and often invisible to social services. In response, in 1979-81, she opened her home to more than 250 youth. Then in 1981, the first drop-in center was founded in Hollywood to offer food, clothing, showers, referrals, identification, rest—basic human needs that could make the difference between life and death.
Street Outreach & National Hotlines:
Recognizing that many children never step into formal systems, Children of the Night built street teams to find and support kids where they are—on sidewalks, motels, truck stops—and a 24-hour nationwide hotline so children could reach help any time, day or night.
Shelter Home (1992-2017):
For 25 years, the organization operated a residential shelter home in Van Nuys, California, providing housing, schooling, therapeutic care, and a stable environment for children aged 11-17 who had been prostituted. Over 3,000 young people lived in the home during that time, benefitting not just from shelter but education, life skills, recreation, counseling—wholeness.
Evolving Laws & Culture:
Thanks in part to Dr. Lee’s work, laws have changed. Children who were prostituted are now more often legally recognized as victims rather than criminals; juvenile justice systems have adapted; social services are more attentive. Yet many challenges remain: stigma, system gaps, and ever-changing dangers, especially online.
Scale of Rescue & Success:
Since its founding, Children of the Night has helped rescue over 17,000 American children from prostitution, maintaining a 70–80% success rate in its programs. Hundreds of graduates have gone on to college and many are now gainfully employed in a variety of roles—teachers, social workers, public servants, entrepreneurs—people contributing back.