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.
Previously: Samaritan House to open facility for survivors of human trafficking in Virginia Beach
“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.”