Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/893386
SignatureMT | 53 Homelessness is an ongoing concern throughout urban areas in the United States. Large shelters like this one crowd nearly 400 people into one room, concentrating many of the problems and issues that often accompany people in crisis. worse recently as career drug dealers change their business model to prostitution in order to make more money, and avoid the crush of law enforcement efforts focused on illegal drugs." In recent years, sex slavery has dried away from the public displays of prostitution on the streets of inner cities-- out of the public eye, and into the dark corners of the internet--creating the perception among many Americans that their streets have been cleaned up and the problem has gone away. e opposite, in fact, is true with the $14.5 billion dollar sex slavery business exploding within the shadowy confines of the underground and internet. According to Slaughter, sites like Backpage.com have made it simple for even moderately tech-savvy pimps to market their stables of underage girls to a world with a seemingly insatiable appetite for their services. "Backpage is the world's second largest classified ad company, with sites in 431 U.S. cities and another 444 worldwide. Despite the January 10, 2017 release of a report by the Senate Permanent Subcommiee on Investigations stating that "Backpage knowingly facilitated underage trafficking on its site," they remain in business today with ads for sex with trafficked children simply shiing to other categories on their page. e ability for slave owners to traffic underage children online and their willingness to be mobile drops this global epidemic of evil squarely into the laps of law enforcement throughout Montana. Aorney General Tim Fox, citing recently released statistics (1/9/17) compiled by the Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), stated, "that while the number of known human trafficking cases in Montana increased between 2015 and 2016 so did the number of child and adult victims rescued during that same time frame." Unfortunately, headlining the facts of note on the DCI press release is that "Montana experienced a 100% increase in human trafficking cases between 2015 and 2016." (www.dojmt.gov) Human Trafficking in Montana by the Numbers (www.dojmt.gov/humantrafficking) • Montana experienced a 100% increase in human trafficking cases between 2015 and 2016 • The number of adult victims rescued in Montana between 2015 and 2016 increased by 83% • The number of juvenile victims rescued in Montana between 2015 and 216 increased by 400% • Shared Hope International (a non-profit organization that grades States efforts to fight human trafficking) upgraded Montana from a "D" to an "A" in their most recent report. This is largely attributed to the passing of House Bill 89 that passed the Montana Legislature in 2015, which legally redefined trafficking in Montana, and created an emphasis on education and awareness, while treating victims of human trafficking as the victims they truly are. The Montana / Atlanta Connection Without fanfare, each of the last several summers, a team of compassionate, hard-working Montanans head to inner-city Atlanta in an effort to thwart human trafficking and help those in need. The Atlanta Dream Center and Out of Darkness Ministries are established entities with successful track records for getting girls ensnared in sex slavery, off the streets, into Safe Houses and on course for physical, emotional & spiritual healing. Far from a flash in the pan, Out of Darkness has rescued and offered rehabilitation to over 1,100 trafficked girls in the last 10 years. With an approach steeped in compassion and a desire to help, the young women that come off the streets with Out of Darkness teams are set up for success from the moment they enter a Safe House. Their longevity, track record and credibility contribute to a system they've built that makes short term trips to assist them, worthwhile and productive. During the time our team spent in ATL this summer, 17 homeless people initiated the process of finding work & shelter and 7 trafficked girls were rescued and began the road to recovery. If you'd like to learn more about how you can participate in next summer's excursion from Montana to Atlanta or financially partner with those who are, drop me an email or give me a call. shane@blackleafwriting.com