The Chatham Kent Women's Centre is joining human trafficking experts in calling for more to be done in Chatham-Kent to help human trafficking victims.
The call came on Thursday as the shelter opened a bedroom for women and their children fleeing human trafficking.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony, shelter Executive Director Karen Hunter and Courage for Freedom Executive Director Kelly Tallon Franklin both said a bedroom is not enough to handle the volume of cases in the municipality.
They're calling for a safe transition home in Chatham to house human trafficking victims because Chatham has become a hub for the crime.
Hunter said two years ago the shelter started seeing the volume of human trafficking victims increase.
"Now we're seeing human trafficking victims almost on a weekly basis being referred by other social service providers in the community. So, there once was just a few calls for emergency services here. It's now become a weekly request," said Hunter.
CK Women's Centre ribbon cutting dedicating a bedroom for women and their children fleeing human trafficking. (Photo by Paul Pedro)
Franklin said human trafficking takes many forms, including forced labour and forced sex. She offered a unique way to combat the problem by trying to help those with sexual impulses buying people for sex.
"It's offering opportunities to buyers of those that are trafficked that are struggling with sexual impulsive behaviours. Not vilifying men, not vilifying just traffickers, but having the buyer conversation," Franklin said.
Tara Greenway, Co-Chair of the Chatham-Kent Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition, said the group started about a year ago because it's important to educate the community about the crime and help victims get out of that lifestyle.
The shelter helps women and their children escape domestic violence and rebuild their lives safely by offering shelter, advocacy, counselling and crisis support.
Their phone lines at 1-800-265-0598 or 519-354-6360 are answered 24 hours a day.
