Testimony of Faith Huckel Before the City Council

June 27, 2011
“Combating Sexual Exploitation in NYC: Examining Available Social Services”

On behalf of Restore NYC, I would like to thank the Women’s Issues Committee and the General Welfare Committee for holding this hearing. My name is Faith Huckel and I am the Co-founder and Executive Director of Restore NYC.

Restore NYC is a non-profit organization that restores freedom, safety and hope to foreign-born survivors of sex trafficking by providing long-term, holistic aftercare services. We partner with local and federal officials and other organizations to empower survivors, and facilitate the prosecution of traffickers.

Sex trafficking is rampant in NYC. Women are forced to work in brothels and massage parlors in various locations throughout the city, such as, Flushing, Jackson Heights, and Jamaica Queens, Midtown Manhattan, and Chinatown. The victims come to New York with promises of legitimate jobs that will help provide for them and their family. Upon arrival to the US, their trafficker will claim ownership of the victim and will force the women to work in prostitution using a variety of tactics of manipulation, violence, abuse of power, debt bondage, forced marriage, fraud and coercion.

Commoditized, oppressed, and abused, trafficked victims are caught up in a repeating cycle of slavery. When a brothel is raided by police, victims are processed through the court. Without support or alternatives, victims often find no other option but to return to the brothels or some other form of commercial sexual exploitation. In addition, due to the multiple issues that clients face – post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, suicidality, fear, lack of trust, immigration issues, physical injuries, homelessness and poverty, healing can take years, often decades.

Restore NYC works to end the cycle of sexual slavery by providing long-term solutions that help prevent victims from being re-trafficked and assist law enforcement in prosecuting traffickers. In the long and difficult journey to recovery, Restore provides individually tailored aftercare services that holistically address the needs of the trafficked survivor. We provide case management, counseling, ESL, job training, court advocacy, financial assistance, movement therapy, and very importantly, long-term safe housing.

93% of our clients are referred to us through Queens Criminal Court. 7% are referrals through other local courts, The Department of Homeland Security and other social services providers, such as Sanctuary for Families. In 2010, Restore NYC served over 100 clients: 73% are undocumented and ages range from 18-43 years of age with an average age of 34. Our clients were trafficked from abroad, specifically Korea, China, Indonesia, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. They all came from low socio-economic backgrounds, with a majority having an education level of high school or lower.

In October 2010, Restore opened the first long-term safe house in the Northeast dedicated to foreign born sex trafficking victims. The safe house is more than a place for survivors to rest their heads for the night. We have weekly programs and volunteers coming to the house consistently to help the women improve their English skills, equip them to find jobs and be self-sufficient, arts and crafts, and mentoring support. It is a place where meals are cooked and shared, where television shows are laughed over together, where tears are shed and encouragement is given. It is a place of peace, love, and rest, of community and safety. It is truly a home.

In less than 6 months of opening the safe house, it was completely full. Safe housing remains the number one need for survivors of sex trafficking in New York City.

In the coming year, the needs for both our residential and non-residential programs are forecasted to continually increase. To meet this critical and growing need, we are expanding our programs and plan to add additional staff and another safe house in 2012.

Again, thank you to the Committees for hosting today’s hearing, and I would like to urge City Council to recognize the need for long-term and holistic services for survivors of sex trafficking in our city, particularly safe housing, and to assist in providing the necessary resources and support to this greatly underserved population. Thank you.