By Shana Robertson | Community Relations Director
Providing a safe and nurturing community is our mission. The dream is to build non-congregate housing as a transitional step for survivors.
Victims of sexual violence struggle with breaking the cycle and require secure housing that will not allow them time and space to heal, therapeutic counseling to relearn coping skills and unlearn the abusive tactics. The need for safe and stable housing is one of the most vital and immediate concerns for survivors of abuse and violence. Non-congregate stabilization housing for individuals who are fleeing from or attempting to flee from dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking is not available in Lake County, Indiana USA. There are currently multiple housing programs for homeless individuals and emergency shelter programs. However, there are no programs providing non-congregate housing opportunities with comprehensive, victim-centered, trauma-informed wrap-around services for victims from all the violent crime areas identified as: dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking.
Additionally, there is a notable lack of services targeted to victims of sex crimes and trafficking in Northwest Indiana. Local Domestic Violence shelters are full to capacity and Fair Haven RCC is the only 24/HR Crisis Response sexual assault victim service provider for the county, including services to victims of human trafficking. In 2019, Fair Haven RCC served two identified victims of human trafficking, meaning many victims are coming forward for services who do not identify as victims of human trafficking or are falling through the cracks. Since that time, Fair Haven has worked with an additional 18 victims of human trafficking. Of those individuals, 90% would have benefited from a housing program that would provide therapeutic supports to meet the unique needs of survivors of human trafficking and their children.
The Launch went live on April 21, 2023 during our Sexual Assault Awareness Month event, Fair Haven RCC's "Masquerade Gala".
The evening included 150 community leaders and stakeholders to raise awareness against sexual violence & exploitation within our community. In honor of survivors of sexual violence, we featured a unquie art gallery: ‘The Mask Project; a Journey of Healing’. This art expression empowered our clients to invest back into their recovery and highlight the 5 stages of recovery. Our board and community champion, highlighted the agency’s mission, shared the exponential growth we have experienced and the future plans for expansion by sharing this project link.
Every 68 seconds in America, someone becomes a victim of sexual violence. We ask you to consider commmitting to a $68 monthly donation to honor that survivor! We will continue to raise awareness and find invested community stakeholders, like you, to join us in "building a house so that we can home others."
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