Much of the support is coming from those who have already left the Creek and made a life for themselves on the outside.

Lacy, who did not want her last name used, left the FLDS Church at 16.

"I didn't conform to what my dad wanted, and so he went and talked to Warren," she said.

She was told by Warren Jeffs to leave the community.

"Warren told me to leave until I could gain a testimony," Lacy said. "I didn't braid my hair all the time. Things that in normal society no one would even look at, but because of the way they live, it was looked down upon and they didn't want me."

Leaving Hildale and Colorado City, she crashed at a sister's place for a while.

Now 20, Lacy has a 2-year-old son. She has volunteered to work at the shelter, planning and cooking meals.

"I think it's awesome for this place to have opened," Lacy said. "They're giving kids a better opportunity to go mainstream in life and not turn to drugs and alcohol."

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com