|

Pensacola nonprofit receives $435K to provide shelter for human trafficking survivors

ByEyes on Trafficking News

The Network of Immediate Services for Survivors International, a faith-led nonprofit organization for survivors of human trafficking, received appropriations from the state to fund the first short-term care facility for human trafficking survivors in Northwest Florida.

State Rep. Alex Andrade and Sen. Doug Broxson sponsored NISSI's appropriations request during the 2020 legislative session, providing NISSI with $435,000 to construct “a place of solace” for survivors.

“We are so thankful to Representative Andrade and Senator Broxson and their teams, and are grateful that our entire Northwest Florida Delegation is committed to this cause, and is supportive of the work we do at NISSI,” NISSI President Sara Lefevers wrote in a press release. “Not every community has that luxury.”

The new facility is not a safe house, but will provide short-term care “for adult, female survivors up to seven days” to help get them “to a long-term option as quickly as possible.”
“The NISSI Service Center will be a place of solace from the darkest form of evil that exists in our world,” said Anna Grace Carrick, NISSI's director of survivor services. “While at the same time (it will be) a place of hope for the beautiful future that awaits the survivors we serve.”

Transition help: UWF psychology students help to furnish transitional living home Set Free Refuge

Launching: New Pensacola center will provide human trafficking victims immediate services

NISSI also serves adult men and minors through referrals and transitional services, but does not currently offer residential services to those groups. However, NISSI has partnerships with other organizations if adult men and minors approved by the Department of Children and Family need a residential space.

Florida is a hotbed of human trafficking in the country. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Florida ranks third in the United States in human trafficking reports.

NHTH's most recent data from 2020 places Florida behind California and Texas with 2,539 “substantive” calls to NHTH between Jan. 1 and Dec. 20, 2020. California ranks No. 1 with 4,970 calls, followed by Texas with 3,559.

Lefevers thanked Broxson and Andrade for their help securing the funding. She also thanked Ben and Makenzie Schettler for providing a location where they could provide their services, and she also thanked NISSI's partners and community in Pensacola.

“The most beautiful thing to witness is a community who lives out their values and truly cares for the most vulnerable in their community,” she said.

Benjamin Johnson can be reached at [email protected] or 850-435-8578

This article originally appeared on Pensacola Journal: Pensacola based NISSI banks $435K to house human trafficking survivors

 

This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original location.

ABOUT

PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.

 

EYES ON TRAFFICKING

This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original online location.

ABOUT PBJ LEARNING

PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials online course is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.

Print PDF