I took a tour of the Phoenix Dream Center with a group of women yesterday. It’s the residential facility that heals and houses victims of human trafficking.
I wrote about The Dream Center HERE.
The building itself is an old Embassy Suites. It has security from Homeland Security as well as their own security staff surrounding the building.
I was impressed that it had it’s own medical office. They said they want to check the victims out physically within a day of them entering the program. Often human traffickers keep the victims documents like driver’s license or social security card when they escape, so it could take 45 days to get new documents and a doctor’s appointment. They lost one young woman to organ failure and felt that they could do better. So, they built their own medical office and doctors volunteer their time so there is no need for documents or insurance.
The girl who died said she was at peace, because she was free and felt like the Dream Center was home.
The center also has a dental office and optometrist office.
I cleaned out my closet the day before my visit and found they have two rooms for men’s and women’s clothing that were clean and organized. Residents can go into the clothing rooms and pick whatever they want off the racks for free. Residents also are responsible for maintaining the clothing rooms.
There’s a garden which is healing for the residents to work in. They also have a chapel, therapists and psychiatrists.
One of the eye popping statistics was that unlike the drug traffickers who sell their product and then need to find more to sell, human sex traffickers can sell their victims from 12 to 16 times a day for years. Young boys around 11 years old can earn $300,000 a year for their traffickers.
We were told that 95% of the residents grew up in the Phoenix area, they are not coming from the southern border. The number one trafficker is a Romeo, who a vulnerable young woman falls victim to and is manipulated into sex trafficking. They may meet their trafficker online or in person.
It was a worthwhile day, but I’m emotionally exhausted.
I thought human trafficking was a border issue, but it turns out it’s not and it’s throughout our country and the world.
What are your thoughts about human trafficking NOT being a border issue?
I think this dream center is a marvelous idea. The cruelty of human trafficking is so horrifying that it would take a huge toll on a sensitive person
I found out that Dream Centers exist throughout the US. The centers have different focuses such as feeding the hungry, helping poor families, drug and alcohol rehab as well as human trafficking.
That is indeed wonderful.
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I was very aware that trafficking cannot be lumped under the “border crisis” issue, and to be honest I think doing so is just one example of why folks need to be very cautious and very diligent into doing their own research on issues that have become politicized in our country. Kids and young adults are drawn, or literally dragged into this process from our communities and every community around the world. Once they’re in they could be moved from place to place and country to country at a whim. I honestly think those who want to make this another false narrative tied to the border are as culpable as the traffickers themselves. The issue is ignored because people believe it’s all part of the border crisis so just send them back or keep them out to begin with. Keeping the public uninformed is a great tactic to advance a political agenda.
You’ve made a good point. I’m sure some trafficking occurs at the border but it’s not the main source. Yet most people believe it’s due to the open border.
Thank you for sharing about people doing something to help victims. It’s scary to think of this going on right under our noses. I remember when I was 17 and 18 and I would go into downtown Houston to party in clubs and would walk the streets with other teens. We naively thought we were safe. But we often saw young prostitutes on the streets, not knowing they were probably being trafficked. So terrible. And the government seems to be looking the other way on this.
I agree the government isn’t doing enough. We don’t even know everyone who was hanging out with Epstein.
I’ve never really thought of this as a border issue, though I know some trafficked humans are moved from one country to another – making it exceedingly difficult for them to break away or get help. They may not know the language. I’m glad to know there are centers like this to help the vulnerable. When it happens to minors, it’s just heartbreaking!
This center deals with 18 and older but the stats they gave said the majority in the US are under 14 😡
Omg this is horrifying that it’s not just a border issue. Also, the dream center is a great idea.
I found out that there are more than 100 of them throughout the USA.