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  “The single greatest barrier to escaping sex trafficking and prostitution is a lack of safe housing.”  

-Terry Forliti, Executive Director of Breaking Free

On September 1, 2019, Breaking Free opened an Emergency Shelter with four private bedrooms and is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year. 

Before our Emergency Shelter opened, it was not uncommon for staff to arrive at work to find a client sleeping on our porch.

If a victim over 18 years old is identified, there are very few, if any, options for them to find a safe place to stay. 

We’d purchase sleeping bags, tents, provide hotel rooms to help those that fell into this ‘gap of services,’ but that wasn’t providing them with their most basic human need, shelter. By offering our emergency shelter we can protect those who are fleeing and need a safe place to stay. 

Once safe in our emergency shelter clients can rest, eat, and meet with a case manager to determine next steps. We have onsite therapy, can accompany clients to appointments and meetings, and encourage them to attend our support groups. 

Breaking Free street community presence through outreach is an important way to build trust and raise awareness about our services for those who are sex trafficked and prostituted in Minneapolis and St Paul communities. 

We hand out BBQ, sandwiches, hot coffee, warm clothing, hygiene kits, and more. Meeting the immediate needs of those we encounter on the street creates trust with Breaking Free staff. 

Women we encounter feel encouraged to seek help at our Drop-In center and Emergency Shelter, and to receive other Breaking Free services and resources to exit the life of prostitution and sex-trafficking. 

Because of our outreach efforts, Breaking Free has played a significant role in recovering missing women and girls. 

Breaking Free partners with many other organizations working in the community. Collaboration is important to make a stronger presence as well as combine our efforts and resources.  

 "As the crowd rose to their feet at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Pyle Center in applause, I felt so proud to be a speaker on the Breaking Free panel! Proud of our courage, proud of our wisdom and proud of the voices we each shared." 

– Breaking Free Survivor Leader

Breaking Free is providing opportunities to empower survivors in a variety of ways. Speaking engagements, art exhibits, attending seminars and symposiums, writing books, social enterprise through jewelry making classes, self-care classes, self-agency awareness, internships and more are what we offer each of our survivors. 

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP EMPOWER SURVIVORS

By offering your time, professional skills, and gifts, you can join the movement to heal those who have been trafficked and exploited. Email our Volunteer and Program Coordinator to inquire about opportunities to help our survivors grow.

Breaking Free’s  Procedures regarding COVID-19:

Breaking Free recognizes that we have extraordinary responsibilities in our Emergency Shelter, Drop-In Center, and Permanent Supportive Housing programs to protect the health and safety of our clients and staff. Your support enables us to meet those current safety needs and help our clients and their families.

We have implemented measures recommended by the CDC for Interim Guidance for Homeless Shelters, and the Minnesota Department of Health Strategies to Slow the Spread of COVID-19. Temps are checked. Masks are provided. Appointments to accommodate social distancing are being made.

We have now resumed our weekly support groups. We have not closed our offices, Drop-In Shelter, Emergency Shelter or Permanent Supportive Housing.

Keep in mind that we currently serve 41 families through our Permanent Supportive Housing and Hearth Connection, as well as many clients through the Emergency Shelter and Drop-in Center.