Human trafficking is growing, and has probably increased as a direct result of the global economic woes encountered everywhere. It now ranks second only to drug trafficking in terms of global illegal economy, and in one fashion is uglier than drugs: The victims are often taken and held without consent.
One program that reaches out to homeless teenagers, in an attempt to keep them from becoming victimized by human traffickers, is the Redmond, Washington-based Beulah’s Place. From the website:
Beulah’s Place was created as a place of refuge for homeless teens who are easy prey for sexual predators and those who exploit these youngsters for criminal gain. Our publicly funded non-profit organization offers help, healing and hope by providing food and shelter as well as educational and work skills counseling.
There is nothing – nothing – more important than issues of dignity, and too many of our issues, at their core, derive from the lack of acknowledging human dignity. Organizations that attempt to restore the sense of basic human dignity deserve the highest place in our estimations and esteem.
Beulah’s Place web address: http://www.beulahsplace.org/
While any number of organizations seek to assist the homeless, I suspect fewer of them focus specifically on homeless teenagers, a highly vulnerable age group. My best wishes to the organization for the coming year and years.
Tags: Beulah's Place, homeless organizations, troubled teenager organizations
