Restore's Freedom Campaign: Long-Term Aftercare for NYC Trafficking Victims

New York City, one of the world’s human trafficking hubs, has no long-term aftercare facilities for international trafficking victims. This despite it’s 2007 Anti-Human Trafficking Law, hailed as one of the toughest in any state, which outlines the need for victim services. Fortunately, Restore NYC, a non-profit organization and part of the mayor’s anti-trafficking task force, is going to change that.

Restore provides case management and specialized legal, medical, and employment services for victims. New York’s two major women’s shelters offer help to trafficking survivors, but do not focus on providing any sort of long-term care. Sanctuary for Families offers “intensive legal, counseling and psychiatric support to victims of this horrific form of modern-day slavery, while doing extensive outreach and trainings.” Safe Horizon has a trafficking hotline and offers education as well. Neither are equipped to offer the kind of aftercare victims of human trafficking desperately need.

As Change.org blogger Amanda Kloer pointed out, many trafficking victims have a greater need for safety and emotional and mental rehabilitation than the average domestic violence survivor. Traffickers, AKA “extremely dangerous, gun-toting criminals,” don’t take kindly to losing their lucrative human property and can head straight for domestic violence shelters to reclaim their victims. Not to mention that most international victims don’t speak English, don’t have job skills, have no idea how to care for themselves in America, and no way to protect themselves if they’re sent back home.

Faith Huckel, executive director of Restore New York, understands the care and safety trafficking victims require and is attempting to change the face of New York’s approach to aftercare.

“Slavery exists in our own backyards, in the peep booths in midtown Manhattan, in the massage parlors in Chinatown, and in the brothels in Flushing,” Huckel said. “Sex trafficking is thriving in our city, and we must help our neighbors. We must help sex trafficked survivors to find freedom, safety, and a restored identity.”

Restore’s Freedom Campaign kicks off this Thursday, March 18^th, with a fundraising gala in SoHo for New York’s first long-term housing option for international trafficking victims. They aim to provide a stable and secure environment in which survivors can recover and transition to a healthy and sustainable life.

Special guests include LaMont Hiebert, lead singer of the Ten Shekel Shirt and co-founder of love146, and local New York musician Tom Hayes. Performer Audrey Lee will share the experience of the treatment and care one woman received through Restore and the necessity for a safe house in New York City.

In addition to live music and guest speakers, the event will feature a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer, and much more. Tickets are available here up to the day of the event. If you can’t attend but wish to donate, do so here. All proceeds go to opening the safe house as well as providing continued operational support for Restore’s current services and programs.

Check out this video to hear more from Faith Huckel and Restore: