A Group Home for Survivors of Sex Trafficking Opens in Berks County
A group home like no other in Berks County will soon begin accepting refugees of human trafficking.
Refuge House is a safe house in Reading for women ages 18 to 28 who are survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Up to six women at a time – from Berks or other counties and states – can be treated as part of the 18-month restorative care program, said Andrea McHenry, executive director of FREE, which stands for Freedom and Recovery for Everyone Enslaved.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 5: Gender Equality
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
It’s the first safe house in Berks for survivors of sex trafficking, she said.
“We are an anti-human-trafficking organization, and we know that one of the greatest and most critical needs is restorative homes for survivors, not only here in Berks County but across the nation,” McHenry said. “We wanted to provide a long-term restorative home for women to get on a journey of healing.”
Berks had the fourth-most criminal case filings related to sex trafficking in Pennsylvania during the recent five-year period for which those statistics are available, according to data compiled by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.
Between 2017 and 2021, Berks authorities filed charges for 106 human trafficking-related offenses, representing 9.67% of the statewide total, the AOPC said in a February special report, “Human Trafficking in Pennsylvania.”
McHenry said Refuge House will begin accepting refugees Sept. 5.
The endeavor was several years in the making.
In 2020 the faith-based nonprofit bought a nine-bedroom row home in Reading — the address is not being publicly disclosed — funding the purchase largely from donations from individuals and churches. The house consists of two buildings the previous owner combined into a single home.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual exploitation.
- SDG 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
- SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators. However, potential indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets may include:
- Number of survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation provided with restorative care programs.
- Number of human trafficking-related offenses filed by authorities in a specific area.
- Number of safe houses or group homes established for survivors of sex trafficking.
- Number of survivors who receive trauma-informed therapy and support services.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual exploitation. | Number of survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation provided with restorative care programs. |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor. | Number of human trafficking-related offenses filed by authorities in a specific area. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Number of safe houses or group homes established for survivors of sex trafficking. |
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Source: readingeagle.com
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