Anti-Human Trafficking
Central Ohio Area Services Anti-Human Trafficking Information
What is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is compelled exploitation in commercial sex or forced labor for financial gain of the trafficker. Ohio ranks 6th in the number of hotline calls placed to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. In Central Ohio, men, women, and children are trafficked in numerous sex industry venues such as the streets, hotels, brothels, massage businesses, and private homes, and in labor industries such as agriculture, factories, hospitality, construction, domestic servitude, and cleaning services.
Our collaborative approach:
The Salvation Army is honored to serve as the Coalition Manager for the Central Ohio Reach and Restore Coalition, a network of 120 organizations working together to raise awareness and build a strong network of services for trafficking survivors.
Our program:
The Salvation Army fills a critical role in Central Ohio’s human trafficking service network, offering the following services for:
- 24-hour response to calls from the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
- 24-hour in-person emergency response to assist in exiting the trafficking situation.
- Long-term comprehensive case management to help survivors build stability in their lives.
- Weekly street outreach and drop in center for women trafficked in the sex industry.
- Trauma and addiction groups to support healing and recovery
Learn more:
If you would like to request a training, learn more about human trafficking or how you can join our fight for freedom, please contact Melanie Deis at Melanie.Deis@use.SalvationArmy.org
Get help:
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking we can help. To reach our 24/7 local Salvation Army support team, call the National Human Trafficking Hotine at 888-373-7888 or text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE). You will be linked to The Salvation Army’s team for immediate response.
Harriet's Hope
Our history and experience
Fighting human trafficking has been part of The Salvation Army’s Mission since its earliest days. Since 2007, The Salvation Army has taken a lead role in combating human trafficking in Central Ohio. Social Services Director, Michelle Hannan, MSW, LISW-S, is a past chair of The Salvation Army’s United States Anti-Human Trafficking Committee and is a member of the Ohio Human Trafficking Commission.
She leads a highly effective team that includes advocates with lived experience with human trafficking. The program benefits from insight provided by our Survivor Advisory Council.
Harriet's Hope Supportive Housing Community
The Salvation Army is honored to be a partner in the Harriet’s Hope supportive housing community for human trafficking survivors, developed and operated by Beacon 360 Management and CMHA. This 52-apartment supportive recovery community provides affordable housing and recovery support for 52 survivor-led households. The Salvation Army
manages intake for Harriet’s Hope and provides onsite case management to assist residents with building stability and achieving their goals.
Stats
468
Human trafficking survivors received support as they worked toward healing, recovery, and long-term stability.
267
Street outreach encounters were made with women exploited in commercial sex on the streets of Columbus.
84%
Of survivors obtained or maintained housing and 77% achieved safety.
We Need Your Help to Rebuild Hope and Stability
The Salvation Army in Central Ohio is on the frontline of the anti-human trafficking work to rebuild hope and stability for men, women and children trafficked right here in our community. But we need your help, and your donations stay local.
Other Services
