Hope for Justice has been engaging with dozens of people on the streets of Nashville as part of efforts to identify and prevent human trafficking in the U.S.
Our team has joined the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD), the Salvation Army in Nashville, the Mental Health Co-operative, emergency services and other partners to conduct evening outreach.
We identified two potential victims of human trafficking in our initial two visits to downtown Nashville, with further visits set to take place this month and next.
The wider focus of the work is to provide those in need with warm clothing and supplies amid the sub-zero temperatures the state is currently experiencing.
Olivia Messina, Hope for Justice’s Tennessee Program Lead, said: “One of the goals of this outreach is to identify survivors of human trafficking, and to disseminate resources to those who might need them in a discreet way. There are specific locations we are aware of, where people who are most at-risk of human trafficking might be staying. We have been conducting a general drive around within a three-mile radius of Broadway and surrounding areas and then engaging with people we see. In January we spoke with about 65 people across two evenings, and we have identified a couple of potential victims of modern slavery.”
MNPD invited Hope for Justice to join them for monthly evening outreach, between January and March. We have been distributing packs to vulnerable people on the streets. These packs contain snacks, water, tissues, chapstick, a Hope for Justice brochure containing our contact details, and warm clothes such as gloves and scarves. We have also handed out blankets and handwarmers.
Olivia said: “Within these packs, there is information which could be vital to some of the people we are engaging with; it is highly likely that some of these individuals are currently trapped in exploitative situations. A big part of what we are doing is building trust and rapport, so that they feel safe to raise any concerns with us and can identify themselves as survivors.
“It has been abnormally cold in Tennessee, with temperatures ranging from 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 20 degrees Fahrenheit in January, and dropping even lower overnight. So, there is also the aim of meeting the immediate needs of those who are vulnerable. We are really grateful to all those locally who have donated items to help us with this cause.”
“Thank you also to MNPD for inviting Hope for Justice to join their outreach work. It has been an honor to partner with these organizations, and a really great way for us to reach lots of people. This work has focused on the winter months, but we will potentially look to return during the summer months.”
Whilst exploitation can happen to anyone, anywhere, there are some factors which might increase a person’s vulnerability to modern slavery. Some of the circumstances which might increase a person’s risk of being targeted by exploiters include: homelessness, rough sleeping, destitution, living in insecure housing, being a missing person, substance dependency or abuse, or poor mental or physical health. You can find out more about the general indicators of modern slavery here.
MNPD’s Central Precinct posted on their Facebook account: “Meeting people where they are. Over the past several weeks, our Quality of Life Outreach Team has been volunteering their evenings to partner with Mental Health Cooperative, The Salvation Army – Nashville, Hope for Justice, Yaipak and other service providers to bring mental health support and cold weather resources to the streets of downtown amongst our most vulnerable populations. These teams have offered on-the-spot assessments, transportation to warm shelters, cold weather gear, food, water and information about wraparound services. Through these amazing partnerships, they have been able to impact the lives of hundreds of people who might not have known otherwise that someone cared. Thank you so much to each of you who have made this outreach possible. We are forever grateful.”
