VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A ribbon cutting was held Friday to unveil a new resource aimed to help the youngest victims of human trafficking.
Samaritan House opened the doors to a new safe house named ‘The Hallow’ for underage survivors of human trafficking.
“This has been a five-year labor of love,” said Robin Gauthier, executive director of Samaritan House. “We’ve never had a licensed facility to serve children only without a parent, and so victims of human trafficking that are children between the ages of 11 and 17 can come to The Hallow for services.”
The home sits on just under two acres, made with the victim’s trauma in mind.
“We were really careful about making sure we used all the right colors and all the things that help regulate and calm,” Gauthier said. “They’ll be able to stay here as a residential facility. We’ll have immediate counseling services if that’s what is needed. We’ll have equine therapy, play therapy, art therapy, all types of things here to help them recover from what’s happened to them.”
She explained this facility comes after an uptick in human trafficking cases during the pandemic, specifically between family members.
“We were not ready or prepared to receive children, and so Samaritan House put it in their strategic plan to build something for child victims of human trafficking that are minors,” Gauthier said.
Gauthier added the house is the only one in the region aiming at specifically helping the trafficked youth population.
“We’re just excited to be open,” Gauthier said. “We’re excited to be filling this gap in the community. So, there’s places for these children to go.”
Gauthier said the facility will officially open its doors within the next week or so after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.