The Salvation Army has historically been on the front lines fighting human trafficking since the time of William and Catherine Booth in London, England, by advocating to raise the legal age of consent. We have come a long way since, but the battle is far from over. The Salvation Army is opposed to the corrupt abuse of power against other human beings that is inherent in trafficking for personal economic gain. We therefore have the responsibility, both individually and collectively, to work for the liberation of those who have been enslaved in this manner, and to establish the legal and social mechanisms by which human trafficking can be stopped.

New Day staff began to see the need for a larger space and expansion to serve the survivors referred for housing. Staff began in early 2020 searching for a larger space and diversified funding to meet the diverse and acute needs of survivors of trafficking. A few years later, they were able to collaborate with a developer in Philadelphia to renovate and outfit a space tailored to their needs. In addition, New Day applied for HUD funding in the fall of 2022 and was awarded a HUD contract for over $500,000 annually to expand New Day’s work from 8–16 beds and to add a Rapid Rehousing component to the program. Survivors would now be able to enter transitional housing and have the option of exiting to a permanent independent housing unit with their rent paid for up to a year!

Of course, challenges come with change, and NDNH staff faced building issues, delays in construction, and due to the new HUD funding had to navigate changes to the intake process. As an aspect of HUD funding NDNH became a part of the City of Philadelphia’s housing system. New Day staff worked with Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services to build trafficking screening into the housing coordinated entry system. As a result, there is now universal trafficking screening completed for all individuals who access homeless services in Philadelphia.

After almost 2 years of construction, NDNH was able to move into the newly renovated space and celebrated with key supporters with a ribbon cutting. Most recently NDNH has welcomed the first clients into permanent housing through the Rapid Rehousing program.

The Salvation Army in Central Ohio has operated its Anti–Human Trafficking program since 2007, offering comprehensive, trauma–informed, peer supported services to survivors of sex and labor trafficking. The program plays a pivotal role in the community, managing the 24–hour human trafficking hotline and providing outreach, long term case management, drop–in center, law enforcement victim advocacy, and trauma and addiction group services. The Salvation Army also serves as the coalition manager for the Central Ohio Reach and Restore Coalition, a network of over 100 organizations working together to raise awareness and build a strong service network for survivors. 

We are honored to be part of a new supportive recovery housing community for human trafficking survivors called Harriet’s Hope. This 52–apartment service–enriched Recovery Level II subsidized housing community is specifically designed for human trafficking survivors. Owned and operated by Beacon 360 Management in partnership with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Harriet’s Hope fills a critical gap in affordable housing for survivors seeking to rebuild their lives. The Salvation Army’s role in this effort is managing the intake process and offering on–site, peer–led case management services, provided by The Salvation Army’s Harriet’s Hope Case Manager. Harriet’s Hope serves any adult survivor of labor or sex trafficking, including single adults and families.

The community is rapidly approaching full capacity. It has been a blessing and joy to accompany survivors on the journey toward affordable, recovery–focused permanent housing in this beautiful new facility. We are grateful that we can be part of providing housing that reinforces each survivor’s innate beauty, dignity, and worth.

Meet our Anti-Human Trafficking Program Coordinator

Arielle Curry, M.S.S.

Arielle Curry is the Eastern Territory’s Anti-Human Trafficking Program Coordinator. Ms. Curry oversees the territory’s Anti-trafficking response for The Salvation Army, supporting programs with development, funding, training, and data. Arielle works nationally with her colleagues creating national social service standards that are trauma informed and trafficking survivor centered. Additionally, Arielle provides support to frontline staff by offering clinical support and programmatic technical assistance. Arielle has ten years working for The Salvation Army and many of those years were spent as a clinician working directly with survivors of sex and labor trafficking.

Ms. Curry is trained in Trauma Informed Care as well as Trauma Informed Organizations through the Sanctuary Institute and the Office of Victims of Crime. Over the last decade, Arielle has become an expert trainer, professor in higher education and worked in various multi-disciplinary roles with law enforcement, social services, legal and prison systems as well as faith groups. In January 2018 she was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf to the Victims Services Advisory Committee as the expert on human trafficking to this state wide committee. Ms. Curry received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Eastern University and her master’s degree in social work from Bryn Mawr College.