Sparrow Place

July5th, 2022 Annette Gebhardt, Executive Director of Sparrow Place joined us at our weekly meeting to discuss sex trafficking. There is a national deficit in specialized residential care for survivors of sex trafficking. Sparrow Place is a faith-based nonprofit that was founded when the realization of this gap met with vision and calling. Human Trafficking is modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain labor or a commercial sex act. Minors are an exception. Under Federal Law, any minor used in a commercial sex act is a victim of trafficking. Sparrow Place is not a point-of-rescue or emergency shelter. Often, Survivors will come from a safe house/transitional program, rehab, prison, or age out of a minors’ facility prior to coming to us. Currently, most survivors are directed into short-term care facilities, such as domestic violence programs. These spaces provide temporary relief but don’t truly meet the specific needs of this vulnerable population and we know survivors often find themselves back on the streets. Sparrow Place is a sanctuary, with an array of support and healing services. Needs are identified and an Individual Goal Plan is created and modified as necessary to meet the physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, & relational needs of each resident. The vision of Sparrow Place is that of women growing individually and collectively, while living in community by providing a 24 month, rent free, home environment based on a community living model.