There is nothing like a graduation from the Reside Program. Naomi’s House started the year with our 16th graduation and by recognizing Jackie’s* accomplishments. Jackie came to us after being homeless and exploited for a decade throughout Chicago, but she also came to us ready to heal. Determined to never return to a life controlled by trafficking, Jackie embodies everything we hope for in survivors.

When I arrived at Naomi’s House to lead the women through our weekly devotions, I walked in to the living room to find a woman who has been in the program for several months was balled up on the couch. She’s just the sweetest, tender young woman. She’s unique in how she holds herself, demonstrating from her first impression that she is kind and gentle.

In the last few weeks, my attention has been drawn to a few eye-opening events and cultural moments that have spotlighted human trafficking and the objectification of women.

The first is the Sound of Freedom movie. I hesitated attending the movie because I knew it would be hard to watch…and it was.

Naomi’s House is currently serving half of all the identified survivors of commercial sexual exploitation in IL*. We are so humbled by this reality, and we are equally grateful to be the leading organization in the state that is working with adult survivors of sex trafficking.

“What Naomi’s House is doing is making the invisible visible.” This statement was recently made by a community partner as we met for lunch. I was struck with that insight. Commercial sex trafficking is invisible in our community. But yet, on a regular basis, we receive referrals and phone calls from women looking for help.

The Safe House Project recently released new research with sobering reminders on how difficult it is to heal from commercial sexual exploitation. Here is one stat that has been keeping me up at night: 80% of victims go back to the life of exploitation and sex trafficking because of inadequate after-care services. That is 8 out of every 10 women.