Washington Needs More Resources
Detectives with the Everett Police Department's Special Assault Unit recently arrested two people who were charged with sex trafficking women and teenage girls up and down the I-5 corridor. After Engedi provided consultation to law enforcement about one of the girls involved in this case, it became clear that other counties in Washington are severely lacking in programs like Engedi Refuge that can provide both housing and in-house restoration services specifically for sex trafficking victims immediately after they are separated from their traffickers.
Often, when Washington detectives make trafficking arrests, they lack safe places where they can take the survivors—especially the minor victims—in order to receive housing and restoration services. Survivors can be temporarily housed in a shelter, but to receive the health care, addiction help, and counseling services they need most of all after commercial sexual exploitation, some survivors need to go to several different places to receive services. And with a lack of overarching case management or transportation services, many times these homeless women and girls can fall through the cracks and end up back on the street.
While law enforcement’s efforts to prevent sex trafficking may grow, survivors are left with an uphill battle as they attempt to rebuild their lives, and they often face a lack of available services, which compounds their difficulty. The most pressing needs for these survivors are access to safe housing combined with comprehensive restoration services—also known as wraparound services. Providing stable accommodation that is combined with holistic support is vital to ensure that survivors can heal, regain independence, and thrive.
Wraparound services are holistic and tailored to address the complex needs of sex trafficking survivors. These services can include mental health counseling, medical care, substance abuse treatment, legal advocacy, education, job training, spiritual guidance, and assistance with family reunification. When provided in conjunction with safe housing, these supports empower survivors to heal emotionally, physically, and socially. Restoration is not a linear process. It requires ongoing support and flexibility to meet each individual's needs.
Despite some progress over the last two decades, Washington still lacks a sufficient number of safe houses and comprehensive restoration programs designed explicitly for sex trafficking survivors. Waiting lists are long, and existing programs are often short-term, underfunded, or unable to serve survivors with high needs, such as survivors with disabilities, mental health challenges, or young children.
Sex trafficking survivors in Washington need more than just freedom from their traffickers with no support—they deserve the opportunity to heal and pursue fulfilling lives. Safe housing, paired with wraparound restoration services like women receive at Engedi Refuge, is the best solution for creating a critical bridge from crisis to stability.