WHAT WE DO
Leslie "Hope" Houston (left) with her daughter Megan, (right)
What We Do
At Silver Lining of Hope, we serve as a vital resource for families, survivors and law enforcement.
We act as a specialized resource for families navigating the unthinkable and a dedicated partner for Law Enforcement (LE) and investigative agencies.
Our approach is simple: help those who need help.
Our Pillars of HOPE
We organize our mission into four core pillars, which house our specific projects initiatives:
H✨Homicides
O✨Outreach + Advocacy
P✨Persons Missing
E✨Education & Reform
More info coming soon!
We're Here To Help
Are you a family member or friend of someone who's...
• Missing
• Murdered & Unsolved
• Murdered & Uncharged
• Died Suspiciously
Are you a detective, prosecutor, or part of a law enforcement team working a missing persons case, a domestic violence case, or a cold case?
Silver Lining of Hope is here to help you at no cost.
Reach out today to see how we can help.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Here’s what we're currently working on:
'Indiana Missing Persons Project'
We are compiling data on missing persons in Indiana. We believe that by the time we're done, that at least 1 person will be able to be marked as "FOUND."
When we are done with Indiana, we will move to the surrounding states of Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky, with a goal of this being completed for each state.
What that means in practice:
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Reconciliation of records: Cross-referencing the Indiana statewide missing-persons spreadsheet with NamUs, The Doe Network, The Charley Project, newspaper articles and more to find gaps and duplicates.
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Standardized case data: Cleaning names, dates, last-seen locations, agencies, and links so cases are searchable and comparable.
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Mapped by ISP Districts: Grouping and color-coding cases by Indiana State Police districts to reveal geographic patterns and potential clusters.
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Public-records: Filing APRA and FOIA requests with departments across the state to confirm details, fill in missing data.
Coming soon: A public, searchable directory of more than 1,000 missing persons in Indiana, featuring the newly compiled data gathered through our research. As the project grows, we will expand to include surrounding states, with the long-term goal of building a nationwide directory that is consistently updated and accessible to the public.
Hidden Homicides, Cold Cases & Missing Persons
We are currently helping multiple families of the missing, 1-on-1.
We are currently helping 3 different families with uncharged homicides.
We are currently helping 1 family with a cold case.
& more!
Our Mission
Silver Lining of Hope, Inc. is a dedicated resource for families and a strategic partner to law enforcement. We provide specialized investigative research and advocacy centered on our four pillars of HOPE—Homicides, Outreach, Persons Missing, and Education. Our mission is to ensure that even in the darkest circumstances, no case is forgotten and that expert support is always available to reignite hope for those navigating the unthinkable.
Vision
A Silver Lining of Hope, Inc envisions a world where no family is left behind—where abuse is recognized before it turns fatal, the missing are urgently searched for, and the murdered are not forgotten.
In this future, survivors are heard and protected, professionals are trained to act on red flags, and trauma-informed systems respond with urgency—not apathy. Justice is not delayed or denied. Research informs policy, evidence leads to accountability, and the lived experiences of survivors help shape a safer, more responsive world.
We imagine a system that learns from its failures—and chooses to do better. For each victim still with us, and every one lost too soon.
"A Silver Lining of Hope"
What is, "A Silver Lining of Hope?"
It means.. Even in the darkest storms, there can be light. A Silver Lining of Hope was created to honor Megan's mother, Leslie "Hope" Houston, whose life was so much more than the way she died. Her story will not end as “just another statistic.”
Instead, her name carries forward a mission—to renew hope for others, and to help families and survivors find their own silver lining of hope.
Recent Blog Posts
STATUS & TAX DEDUCTIBILITY
Silver Lining of Hope, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our EIN is 39-2169099.
vision
When tragedy strikes.. We want to make sure justice isn’t buried, or delayed. We aim to help build stronger, clearer protocols for law enforcement. We want officers, medical professionals, EMTs, and others on the front lines to be not just aware—but, fully trained in how to recognize and respond to domestic violence in all of its forms. We believe trauma-informed, domestic violence, and strangulation education must be required across every frontline system—from emergency rooms to police departments to EMS. Because what’s missed in an ER… What’s dismissed during a call to 911… What’s overlooked during wellness checks... When the dominant aggressor is wrongly chosen.. Can be the difference between life and death—Justice, or none at all. And when tragedy does strike, we want to be there for the families who don’t know where to turn, what to ask, or how to even begin advocating for their loved one. Silver Lining of Hope exists to be that person—for as many prosecutors, detectives, families, survivors, and cases as we can reach.
goals
Our goal is to work across, with and alongside medical, legal, and investigative systems to •Support families who’ve lost a loved one and or are fighting for answers •Bridge the gaps between families and professionals—prosecutors, detectives, coroners, medical experts •Analyze case materials —including police reports, medical records, imaging, and autopsy reports—through a forensic and evidence-informed lens. •Train professionals using evidence-based tools and protocols such as identifying who the aggressor is, trauma response, and documentation •Collaborate with experts —forensic pathologists, nurses, prosecutors, advocates—to improve investigative procedures and institutional responses •Influence policy and reform, especially in cases where victims cannot speak for themselves
your support helps us...
Your support helps us.. •Offer direct case support to families navigating unexplained injuries, missed evidence, or fatal domestic violence outcomes •Expand our website into a 24/7 digital resource hub for families, survivors, law enforcement, medical professionals, and prosecutors •Create, print, and share evidence-based forensic guides and toolkits—resources for survivors, families, and frontline responders. •Build a volunteer team of advisors from across legal, forensic, and investigative fields to help us in our mission. •Fund travel, conferences, and outreach, allowing us to advocate, and connect with the professionals and families who need us most.