Anti-trafficking shelter opens in Washington DC
Anti-trafficking shelter opens in Washington DC
20 July 2018
Residents at the new anti-human trafficking shelter in the Greater Washington D.C. area will have access to comprehensive services. Photo Jorge Moncayo on Unsplash.
The Salvation Army has opened a 24-hour anti-human trafficking program in the Greater Washington D.C. area, which will provide emergency shelter for eight women or men fleeing any type of trafficking.
Covering an area including Washington D.C., suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia, the program will use a strength-based and trauma-informed approach to support survivors.
Residents will gain access to comprehensive services, including medical care, trauma therapy, and case management. The Salvation Army will also provide long-term services including transitional housing, education and employment training.
“When we talk about the issue of human trafficking, it strikes at the very heart of the core values of what The Salvation Army is all about,” said Major James Hall, National Capital Area Commander, at an event at the Arlington Corps. “We believe that this is the best way that we can really make a difference.”
The D.C. area is especially prone to human trafficking due to its geographic location, multitude of sporting events, casinos, tourism, interstates and truck stops, and easy access to three airports.
After a lengthy needs assessment, The Salvation Army found that while the D.C. area had existing programs for trafficking victims, there was no place for emergency, short-term assistance. The new shelter is designed to fill that gap.
To protect its residents, The Salvation Army will not disclose the shelter’s location. Shelter staffers will meet potential clients at a designated public place, then guide them to safety.
For more information, click here.
This article first appeared in New Frontier Chronicle.
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