VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A new safe haven for young victims of human trafficking opened in Virginia Beach Friday.
The Hallow by Samaritan House can accommodate up to eight people under the age of 18. The home will provide comprehensive care to treat trauma and possible physical injuries. Samaritan House Executive Director Robin Gauthier said these victims often end up in foster homes or emergency shelters, but told 13News Now, the Hallow is better equipped to serve survivors' needs.
“Some emergency shelters are great, they just may not have the expertise in human trafficking,” Gauthier said. “They may not have the services, the counseling, the therapeutic services that’s needed for a victim.”
The Hallow will be staffed 24/7. Counseling services, including art and equine therapies, will be available at the facility. The Samaritan House team also hopes to add an outdoor basketball court, covered seating and gardens.
Every aspect of the home’s design was intentional, from the architecture to the paint colors in each room.
“We use certain colors that are very calming, we have certain furniture that is very soothing,” Gauthier explained. “Lots of inspirational posters and paintings on the wall. We used lots of light. We really tried to follow a trauma-informed design.”
Gauthier said children will be paired with the home through state services. Former Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring attended the ribbon cutting Friday and said the facility will help those who have lost a piece of their youth.
Herring told attendees, “[Human trafficking] treats victims like commodities and robs victims of their freedom, their dignity, and sadly too often, their childhood.” He added the crime is often underreported, saying, “They suffer in silence. The control traffickers have is so strong, many victims don’t identify as a victim.”
According to Samaritan House, 89% of the people the organization serves are female.
To report human trafficking of any kind in Virginia, call 911 or text #77. You can also text the Virginia State Police human trafficking hotline at 847411. Start your message with “VSP,” then include your tip. You can also call the national human trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233733.
If you’re interested in supporting The Hallow, Samaritan House staff are looking for donations to build a basketball court and expand the house’s garden. For more information, visit the organization’s website.