Houston has long been one of the largest hubs in the nation for human trafficking. And as Patch pointed out, the issue has become an even bigger concern after Hurricane Harvey struck the city, where traffickers often prey on the vulnerable in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
To support local victims, nonprofit Kendleton Farms, part of Elijah Rising, has launched an online market that carries goods crafted by sex trafficking victims at the farm. The goal is to help empower women in rebuilding their lives as they transition back into the traditional workforce.
“A lot of times we would just find a local partner where [a survivor] could go work,” social enterprise director Samantha Hernandez told Houstonia Magazine. “But we found that was not a very seamless transition. We wanted something that was easy and replicable.”
On the 84-acre farm, women work to create the goods that end up on the online boutique: candles, soaps, leather goods, and apparel.
Proceeds go back to the farm and its survivor programs, which include therapy and counseling for women to help them process and rebuild mental health after trafficking.
The farm itself also provides women in the program with a safe environment for healing. Organic vegetables are grown on the farm, and chickens, goats, horses, and even a miniature donkey roam the grounds.
"Coming out of a life full of chaos, you need that safety net," said one survivor, whose story was shared on the Kendleton Farms website. "You need to go somewhere where you are held accountable for things so you can grow healthily."
