LEXINGTON, Ky. — January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and one local nonprofit is helping provide transitional living for women in dire circumstances and/or recovering from human trafficking.
These life-changing efforts are led by Kentucky's Refuge for Women.
Anna Jacobs helps with community engagement and opening doors to Refuge for Women's newest housing program, as the group is building and filling brand-new apartments for those it assists. There are 24 units, and 30 women will soon have their own furniture and appliances to make them feel at home, Jacobs said.
Refuge for Women also aims to provide faith-based outreach to women who have been sexually or commercially trafficked, along with women in unsafe situations that could lead to it.
“It's women who are sober and committed to staying sober, who are looking for job opportunities, who've completed some kind of program," Jacobs said. "But we are still trying to stay true to our mission and fill these units with women who have experienced either sexual exploitation or trafficking.”
The group is expanding its transitional living services, fostering a community of hope for those taking new steps.
“In our former transitional living program, we had a maximum of seven, so getting to serve that many more women just means that hope and healing and restoration get to reach that many more lives," Jacobs said.
Digital outreach tracking has identified nearly 400 women within just 10 miles of Lexington who have been advertised “for purchase," Jacobs said.
“That's a scary stat, but we also get to have housing for 30 women right here," she said. "We get to reach out and provide resource connectivity to those 400 women.”
Jacobs added any form of help can make a difference, whether it's donations, volunteering, spreading awareness or adding a human trafficking hotline number to one's phone.