Passageways SAFE HARBOR

The Link was founded in 1991 by former Minnesota Vikings players, Jim Marshall and Oscar Reed, who wanted to support youth in north Minneapolis who were being victimized by crime, getting involved in crime and who were struggling with poverty and homelessness. The Link is still based in their original vision and in north Minneapolis. The Link has grown from a two staff member organization with three programs to an organization that has 19 programs across the Twin Cities area, employs over 150 adult and youth staff members and supports nearly 3,000 youth and young families each year. The Link offers programming in three areas:

• Housing & Supportive Services Division: housing and supportive services for youth and young families experiencing homelessness
• Juvenile Justice Division: positive alternative programs for youth in the juvenile justice
• Safe Harbor Division: emergency shelter, housing and supportive services for youth who have been sexually exploited

My personal testimony: 
I am a new employee to this organization. I work in the safe harbor division. We house homeless/sexually exploited/at risk youth. This is by far the most fulfilling career I could ask for. This organization works hard day and night to ensure the safety, well-being and positive growth of our youth. Everyday we are able to change a youths life.  Your donation can help us continue to fight for the youths future, growth, safety and well-being. I come to work with a smile on my face knowing I have the ability to change someones life. You now too have the ability to help us change the lives of youth. 

What is Sexual Exploitation?
Minor Commercial Sexual Exploitation occurs when someone under the age of 24 engages in commercial sexual activity. A commercial sexual activity occurs when anything of value or a promise of anything of value (e.g., money, drugs, food, shelter, rent, or higher status in a gang or group, OR the promise of these things) is given to a person by any means in exchange for any type of sexual activity. A third party may or may not be involved.

Mission: The Link works with youth and families to overcome the impacts of poverty and social injustice.
Vision: A community supporting all youth in having equitable access and opportunity.
Values Youth: We value and incorporate youth voice into all we do.
Inclusion: We respect all people, value diversity and are committed to equity.
Quality: We strive for program excellence through continuous improvement and evidence based practices.
Advancement: We aspire to lead through innovative and cutting edge programming.

• A North Minneapolis study of primarily African Americans who had traded sex in the past 5 years found that 50% had first traded sex as a minor at an average age of 13.2
• Minnesota studies have found that 14-20% of homeless youth have engaged in survival sex (providing sex in exchange for food, shelter, money, etc.), i.e. have been sexually exploited.
• One study that included Minneapolis youth found that 44% of homeless lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth had been approached with money, shelter, food, drugs etc., in exchange for sex (i.e.survival sex). 19% of the LGB youth surveyed had engaged in survival sex, i.e. were sexually exploited
• Various studies provide evidence that Native American women experience greater risk factors for being trafficked than other racial and ethnic groups.
• In Hennepin County in 2006, Native American women were only 2.2% of the population yet 24%of people on probation for prostitution were Native women.
• In a Minnesota study of Native women in prostitution, 92% reported wanting to escape prostitution.
• One study found that 50% of females in prostitution who were interviewed reported being physically assaulted by purchasers, with 23% experiencing broken bones, and 2% being beaten into a coma.
• An early intervention to avoid sex trafficking of Minnesota’s female youth passed a benefit-cost test with a return on investment of $34 in benefit for every $1 of expenditure on prevention and intervention by the state government."

DID YOU KNOW THE SUPERBOWL is coming to MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA February 4th, 2018?!?
Did you also know that there is a link between Sexual Exploitation and Sporting Events?! There is!
Here is an example. One of MANY.

"The week before the Super Bowl, New York law enforcement charged 18 people with running a prostitution and drug trafficking ring. The investigators noted that the group specifically targeted rich tourists, particularly during large events in the area. The ring posted ads on the Internet and sent text messages to potential customers, according to the Office of the New York Attorney General." - (Full article here: http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/02/07/there-link-between-major-sporting-events-and-human-traffi...)

The Link has been planing extensively to house an increasing number of exploited youth. We are extending capacity for beds as well as street outreach campaigns and safe drop in locations throughout the metro area.  Your donation will help our organization bridge the gap to this disparity. 


No donation is too big or too small.

 Information provided by The Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force, The link, The Minnesota Department Of Health SAFE HARBOR
http://mnhttf.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Statistics-about-Sex-Trafficking-in-Minnesota-and-...
https://thelinkmn.org/about/
http://www.health.state.mn.us/injury/topic/safeharbor/#sexual_exploitation
http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/02/07/there-link-between-major-sporting-events-and-human-traffi...




COMMUNITY RESOURCES

• https://ysnmn.org/#/home - Shelter, Out-reach, Basic needs, Crisis, Education, Employment.