Safe Harbor Housing

The Department of Human Services funds several organizations to provide emergency, transitional and permanent housing for sexually exploited youth. Shelter and housing are designed with:

• On-site supportive services
• Appropriate security
• Assistance from survivors of sex trafficking
• Collaboration with law enforcement and juvenile justice systems.

Metro area specialized outreach, and metro area and statewide training to youth outreach workers is provided through Lutheran Social Service StreetWorks.

The following agencies are hosting shelter and housing for sexually exploited youth:

Northeast

Counties: Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis.

• Life House
  Life House Safe Harbor Program provides a continuum of care for underage male, female, and gender non-conforming victims of commercially sexually exploited youth. Life house provides two shelter beds for sexually exploited or trafficked youth ages 15 to 19 of all genders, and transitional housing program for youth ages 15 to 20 years old of all gender. This program offers immediate access to emergency needs, 24 hour supportive supervision and comprehensive case management services in education and employment, trauma informed therapy, substance abuse counseling and more.

Northwest

Counties: Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Kittson, Lake of Woods, Roseau, Marshall, Mahnomen, Norman, Pennington, Polk, and Red Lake.

• Evergreen Youth & Family Services
  Evergreen hosts scattered-site housing and supportive services for exploited or trafficked youth ages 17 to 24 of all genders.
• North Homes Children and Family Services
  Provides gender-specific supportive housing program for females ages 16-18 who have experienced sexual exploitation and/or trafficking.

East Metro

Counties: Anoka, Chisago, Dakota, Isanti, Ramsey, and Washington.

• 180 Degrees
  Brittany’s Place is a gender-specific supportive housing program for females ages 12 to 21 who have experienced sexual exploitation and/or trafficking. This shelter is a 14-bed facility offering short-term shelter, and long-term residential housing in a safe and healing environment.
• Ain Dah Yung Center
  Ain Dah Yung Center offers Safe Harbor case management services with a focus on using culture as a means for healing and access to additional Safe Harbor and sexual health resources.
• Breaking Free
  Breaking Free has a four bed emergency shelter for individuals age 18 and older, and allows up to two children per client up to the age of 15. They also have several supportive housing alternatives for youth ages 18-24 and adults who have experienced sexual exploitation and/or who are at risk. They also have a 40 hour per week Drop-In Center and two 18-unit permanent supportive housing units for long-term shelter. They are a holistic program that offers weekly support groups, relapse prevention, job/life skills, writers/speakers bureau, psychotherapy on-site, EMDR therapy on-site, pro-bono legal assistance, case management and a social enterprise to help those who would like alternative job opportunities. They are a survivor-led program.

West Metro

Counties: Carver, Hennepin, and Scott.

• The Family Partnership
  PRIDE serves youth of all gender expressions and sexual orientation impacted by the commercial sex industry. Youth receive case management by trained Safe Harbor advocates to help them in complete their goals. In addition to supportive scattered-site housing, they offer support groups, court advocacy, and survivor mentorship.
• The Link
  Passageways Shelter and Housing Program provides emergency shelter beds for youth ages 13 to 17 and housing for youth ages 16 to 24 who have been victims of sex trafficking. Passageways is inclusive of all gender identities and can serve parenting youth with one child. The Passageways program also provides a variety of on-site services specific to sexual exploitation that include case management, mental health therapy, education programming, life skills training, a survivor mentor program, health care services and positive youth development activities.
• YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities
  The YMCA Safe Harbor Housing offers a rapid re-housing program for youth ages 18-24 of all genders. With a focus on becoming independent in stable housing youth support specialists also offer supportive services relating to housing including: budgeting, employment, and communicating effectively with landlords/building managers.
• Rebound, Inc. Minneapolis 612-615-9821

East Central

Counties: Aitkin, Benton, Crow Wing, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, and Wright.

• Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota
  Saving Grace, located in the Brainerd Lakes Area, offers outreach and specialized foster care program for victims of sex trafficking up through the age of 24. Youth receive intensive case management by a trained case manager to ensure their needs are met while having a safe home environment in a specialized foster home. Foster parents will be trained in trauma informed care principles as well as training regarding sex trafficking and the Safe Harbor/No Wrong Door Model. Youth can be referred 24/7 through the Youth Services Hotline: 1-866-824-3770. Outreach services include outreach to at-risk youth and professionals who may come in contact with potential trafficking victims.
• Terebinth Refuge
  Offers gender-specific programming through shelter, housing, and services to sexually exploited or trafficked females age 18 and over and their children.

West Central

Counties: Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Meeker, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, and Wilkin.

• Heartland Girls’ Ranch
  Heartland Girls’ Ranch is a working ranch and group home licensed by the Department of Corrections for girls ages 12 to 21 that provides housing, supportive services, mental health and chemical dependency support, equine therapy, and a dedicated school for girls who have been sexually exploited/trafficked.
• Lutheran Social Services of MN Willmar 320-231-7075

Southeast

Counties: Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, and Yellow Medicine.

• Lutheran Social Service, Rochester
  Using a scattered site model, the LSS Rochester Safe Harbor Housing Program assists youth ages 17 to 24 in obtaining safe and secure housing. Youth are required to sign their own lease; Safe Harbor resources are available for assistance with security deposits, first and last month’s rent and subsequent rental subsidy. A tapering schedule of rental assistance is established and allows youth to concentrate on healing and stabilizing in the critical first months after program entry.

South Central

• Lutheran Social Services of MN Mankato 507-381-5511
  

Contacts

If you or someone you know is being sexual exploited or trafficked, please contact your Regional Navigator or contact the Day One Hotline at 1-866-223-1111 to learn more about services available in your community.

For more information on Safe Harbor, email the Safe Harbor program at health.safeharbor@state.mn.us.