KCSO & Safe Haven Ministries Awarded Grant to Address Human Trafficking
KENT COUNTY, Mich: Pending approval from the Kent County Board of Commissioners,
Safe Haven Ministries and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office will increase their capacity to address human trafficking through a newly-awarded, three-year $1.2 million grant from the Office for Victims Crime (OVC).
This funding will increase the coordination efforts of the West Michigan Human Trafficking Coalition, as well as provide additional resources for trafficking victims, with a special focus on labor trafficking. In Michigan, labor trafficking often occurs within the agriculture and restaurant/food industries as well as among domestic work and traveling sales crews (The Polaris Project).
KCSO's Human Trafficking Task Force (HTTF) has identified 90 victims of labor and sex trafficking so far this year. It is projected that HTTF will double this number of identified victims by the end of the year.
The OVC funding will enhance collaboration amongst providers; strategic and trauma-informed protocol to respond to sex and labor trafficking; increase activities related to direct client assistance, training and outreach; and create a data-informed understanding of human trafficking in West Michigan.
“Creating a safer community requires a holistic solution informed by multi-sector collaboration” Rachel VerWys, CEO, Safe Haven Ministries. “Funding from this grant helps us leverage the coalition members’ collaboration and establish a coordinated task force for efforts to support victims of human trafficking with increased resources directed to labor trafficking victims, while holding those who commodify people accountable.”
“The success of the Human Trafficking Task Force rests on our collaborative efforts with community-based victim service providers such as Safe Haven Ministries,” stated Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young. “Our increased capacity through this grant award ensures we continue the important work of giving victims a voice.”
On Wednesday, September 25, the “Labor and Sex Trafficking in Kent County: Community Resources & Panel” takes place 10am at the Kroc Center. Panelists include:
● Stacy, Survivor Leader
● Becky Diffin, Moderator (Safe Haven Ministries)
● Lt. Eric Brunner (Kent County Sheriff's Office)
● Leslie King, Lived Experience Expert (Sacred Beginnings Transitional Program)
● Cindy Malott (Crisis Aid International)
● Sophia Salguero (Safe Haven Ministries)
● John Wittkowski (Kent ISD)
This event is convened by the West Michigan Human Trafficking Coalition (WMHTC) – a multi-sector coalition dedicated to bring awareness to the community about human trafficking; respond to the needs of survivors in a trauma-informed, coordinated way and hold traffickers accountable. To learn more about WMHTC, contact Becky
Diffin, Community Advocacy Manager, Safe Haven Ministries (bdiffin@shmgr.org).
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