Safe Homes Needed to Help Victims of Sex Trafficking

The face of sex trafficking in the U.S. is mostly teenage American girls. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the average age of entry for  prostitution is 12 to 14. There are 100,000 to 300,000 children being trafficked for sex in the U.S. 

When most people think of sex trafficking, they think of women taken from other countries, shackled in a closet. In reality the most common chains are psychological. The danger is real for these women who fear for their lives.

Sex trafficking in America changed after Sept. 11. It became more difficult to transport women from other countries so the pimps turned toward American girls because there was still a demand for prostitutes.

Theses girls are under the age of consent but are usually criminalized for taking part in illegal activity. After being released from jail, these girls are usually picked up by their pimp and the cycle continues. Prostitution is considered the oldest profession but these girls are not free but controlled by their pimp or the “bottom bitch”.

To get these girls out of “the life” safe houses are set up around the country. In the U.S. there are only 160 spots in safe homes. These girls need help recovering from their life in prostitution and many shelters are not safe enough because some girls have bounties on them.

In Seattle, the Bridge Program serves 20 14 to 17 year olds each year. While in the program, victims of sex trafficking receive counseling and training in life skills.

Safe homes can serve multiple purposes– emergency shelter and long-term recovery which offers security and healing.  The long process involved in helping these women recover creates a low number of availability of spots in safe homes.

In the U.S. there are only 12 safe houses. Those few safe houses are constantly flooded with requests for advice from others who would like to start safe homes in other locations.

Other sources: http://www.vineyardusa.org/site/content/non-governmental-resources