Standing in the Gap: When Survivors Need it Most

Last week Friday we had our first Inaugural Gala at the Design Barn located in Hebron, IN to raise funds so we can continue providing our services free of charge to survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking. At the Gala our Executive Director unveiled the plans for our stabilization housing that will be called Portside Suites. In Lake, Laporte and Porter counties housing for survivors of human trafficking is something that is greatly needed. We are very excited to see this project through! In attendance at the Gala there were several community leaders and key stakeholders who are invested in our mission to serve survivors within our community. We also received donations of toiletry items from a local group called Circle- K to aid in meeting many of the basic needs our survivors have. We rely on the generosity of others to assist us with reaching more of the people who need us.

According to The First National Survivor Study “In Harm’s Way” conducted and published by Polaris, 30% of Human Trafficking Survivors cite that help from service providers/non-profit organizations that are faith-based is on their list of the most valuable sources of support. Additionally, 37% of trafficking survivors say that support from an advocate is valuable to them when trying to leave the lifestyle. In my first 3 months as the coordinator of Anti-Trafficking at Fair Haven the department has been busy. We have experienced an increase in the survivors reaching out for our services and we are currently serving 27 clients. Each survivor has very specific needs and we work very diligently to meet their individual needs. My hope is to have my department fully staffed and to continue serving the clients in the most informed way possible. Also, I would like to attend additional trainings and begin street outreach to survivors. I see this department moving forward and addressing many of the unmet needs of human trafficking survivors.

Can you believe that 2022 is over?! Me either! We have seen such incredible growth in our programs this year, and I cannot wait to share them with you.

First and foremost, I would like to introduce you to Tamika Muhammed. Tamika has been working hard as a victim advocate for Fair Haven for over a year, and it is with great pleasure that we announce that she is officially taking over the Anti-Trafficking Coordinator role. Tamika’s sense of calm, compassion, and passion make her the perfect fit to oversee this department. We congratulate you, Tamika!

This last quarter has been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. We announced in our last report that our presentation has been accepted as a breakout session at Jana’s Campaign’s Midwest Campus Safety Summit. We were able to attend the conference, and present, back in September.

We also had our largest service year ever in Fair Haven history. We have served 467 clients, 15 of which have been identified as Human Trafficking survivors. We have been called out 109 times to hospitals to provide medical advocacy and crisis intervention and have provided our clients with 58 advocacy services at our local police departments.

We are so thankful for the privileged space we are given in our community. Working with survivors is such an awarding, and oftentimes sad, experience. We could not do it without donations from supporters like you. We wish you the happiest New Year, and pray that 2023 is a great year!