50% of Identified Survivors
Naomi’s House is currently serving half of all the identified survivors of commercial sexual exploitation in IL*. We are so humbled by this reality, and we are equally grateful to be the leading organization in the state that is working with adult survivors of sex trafficking. When I try to process that statistic, I thank God that He has equipped us to do the work that we do. I’m proud of our team for their tireless service to the women we work with, and so grateful for the community and the Church for the way people stand with survivors. It encourages me to no end.
At this time each year, the US State Department releases its Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. The TIP highlights several key factors that organizations must implement in order to have effective anti-trafficking efforts with survivors. On page 42 of the TIP Report, Jeri Moomaw, a person with lived experience of human trafficking states:
“…culturally specific societal norms that limit the safety, rights, and economic freedom of marginalized individuals and communities…may prevent survivors from publicly identifying because it would lead to increased marginalization or other negative repercussions, such as being criminalized rather than identified as a victim. Regardless of the circumstances that led an individual to being trafficked, the impact of cultural barriers remains constant: shame and embarrassment that prevent a victim from receiving the services and support needed to permanently exit their trafficking situation and rebuild a healthy and secure life.”
As Moomaw implies, survivors experience layers of barriers that make their healing experience complicated and increasingly more difficult to move forward in their lives. The services at NH address each of these barriers and equip survivors to take back agency of their own lives.
In order to go from serving 50% to 100% of identified survivors, everything about NH must be intentional and strategic. The way we grow in the next several years will determine if and how we can serve the 24,000 women and girls exploited in IL each year. There are three specific needs I want to bring to your attention and ask that you pray about whether one of these roles has your name on it!
We are looking for a leader in Chicago! We’re hiring a Program Manager of our Reset Program located in Chicago. This person should be passionate about serving survivors, loves Jesus, and is a licensed clinician. Click here to learn more.
We are concluding our Fiscal Year on Aug 31. Would you consider a gift this summer? Click here to say “yes” to the survivors at Naomi’s House and provide hope and healing to each woman we encounter.
We need mentors! Do you love walking alongside people through the highs and lows of life? Are you relational and loyal? Do you know firsthand the experience of the gospel and the life-changing grace we find in Jesus? Then consider being a mentor and linking arms with survivors. Your life will never be the same. Click here to inquire.
All through the gospels, we can read about Jesus healing people. And many people that Jesus healed had trauma in their life: a sickness, a demon, a vulnerability that made them an outcast. These stories serve as an encouragement to us all when we see what hope we have in the healing power of Jesus! Stories like in Mark 10, “The blind man said, ‘Rabbi, I want to see.’ ‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’” (Mark 10:51-52) This is what we pray and hope for every day at Naomi’s House. Thank you for joining with us in believing Jesus for such healing!
Simone
Executive Director