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Column: Safe house for sex trafficking survivors in East Chicago will be new cornerstone of support

Today’s column is the third in a series on sex trafficking in our region and the Chicago metro area, exploring efforts to build a “Safe Village” to protect and heal young victims.

At 15 he was sexually assaulted by a relative’s husband.

“That experience started my story of being a sex trafficking victim for many years,” he said.

In his 20s, he was sexually exploited and manipulated by other men, typically under the guise of romantic love.

“Looking back, I was an easy target for perpetrators who knew what to look for, and how to take advantage of me,” he said.

The Hammond man was not what is commonly believed to be a typical sex trafficking victim – a homeless teenage girl desperate for basic necessities.

“It also happens to teenage boys and young men, like it did with me,” he said. “Back in my younger days, our society didn’t take this issue as seriously as it should. It’s still very difficult for men to come out and admit they were trafficked for sex or raped by other men. I’ve blacked out a lot of it.”

The man, whom I’m not identifying, is a client of Dr. Kalyani Gopal, a Munster-based clinical psychologist who treats sex trafficking victims.

Her cases include: a teenage girl who was forced to perform sexual acts with her mother’s partners in exchange for meals and shelter; a 9-year-old girl told to “play” with male “relatives” who were brought to her house; teens manipulated into uploading inappropriate content onto child porn websites; and a young adult woman who was trafficked by her husband.

“He put ads on the internet, asking buyers if they want to party,” Gopal told me. “The men come in, pay him, and he watched. When they left, he would tell his wife to be grateful to him for taking care of her.”

Human trafficking is defined as modern-day slavery by the U.S. Department of Justice. It’s taking place every day in every area of the country with not enough support resources for current victims and older survivors.

The 43-year-old Hammond man shared his story to help raise awareness of a secretive subject that’s kept in the darkest corners of every community. He is now an advocate for SAFE Coalition for Human Rights, a Munster-based nonprofit organization which, for a few years, has been working to construct a residential village for young victims.

Initially, the group planned to build its village from the ground up on a tract of land in Hobart to offer victims protection, counseling and rehabilitation. That plan fell through earlier this year, as I outlined in my initial column in this series.

Last month, after years of searching, the coalition’s board members announced a new location for its residential center, to be located in East Chicago at an unpublicized address for security reasons. It will use an existing building that is being modified to house up to six survivors and a house manager.

“All of this has transpired very quickly, within barely a week,” said Gopal, the organization’s founder.

In early October, a private low-key reception was held with board members, donors, volunteers, and special guests Frank and Jane Mrvan. Brief speeches of appreciation were followed by an official ribbon cutting and formal blessings from the Rev. Charles Strietelmeier.

“This center is going to house young adult women who have experienced complex traumatic childhoods,” Gopal told guests who included sex trafficking survivors.

The residential facility is named Ashley’s House in honor of a local survivor who has experienced complex trauma and its impact. The house will be fully furnished with new beds to supplement its existing conference room, family room and kitchen.

“Thanks to my fellow psychologists who responded to my request for help, and who made several trips all the way from the north side of Chicago,” Gopal said.

The organization’s announcement is major news for our region, described to me as the “armpit” of the sex trafficking industry in the Midwest, based on geographical location, proximity to Chicago, access to major interstates, and the large number of truck stops and hourly rated motels.

In September, Fair Haven Rape Crisis Center received confirmation of financial support from the U.S. Department of Justice for its new program to offer comprehensive services to human trafficking survivors. The Highland-based agency was one of 43 in the country selected for three years of funding, totaling $350,000.

“We have many goals and even more hopes and dreams for our program,” said Kelly Vates, the agency’s executive director.

Earlier this year, Vates was awarded the 2020 Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking Outstanding Service Award for Victim Advocacy. Her organization launched in 2005 with one $500 donation, two volunteer staff members, one program and “a whole lot of faith.”

“Today, Fair Haven is the only stand-alone rape crisis center in the state of Indiana,” Vates said.

Her agency works with 35 community organizations, including the Northwest Indiana Anti-Trafficking Coalition, which have pooled resources to better serve sex trafficking survivors.

“It’s an amazing group of dedicated and committed organizations,” Vates said.

When Vates learned about this column series, she asked me to highlight the need for more volunteers to get involved with these agencies. (For more information, call 219-961-4357, email kelly@fairhavenrcc.org, or visit www.fairhavenrcc.org.)

“Many of us in this field are survivor leaders and passionate for resolution,” said Vates. “Working with this coalition will be a cornerstone to build our program.”

jdavich@post-trib.com