LIFT, a Survivor-led Nonprofit Organization, Celebrates Low-Barrier Emergency Shelter Opening with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Contact Information:
Nicole Bell, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Living in Freedom Together
nikki@liftworcester.org
508-762-9660
For Immediate Release—Worcester, MA:
Worcester, MA: Living in Freedom Together, Inc. (LIFT) recently celebrated the new location opening of their HARBOR (Healthcare, Advocacy, Room, Board, Outreach, and Rehousing) program, with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
LIFT has recently launched a new program called HARBOR, which will expand LIFT’s reach in the Worcester community and across the Commonwealth. HARBOR is a collaborative initiative that combines crucial day-time programming with a maximum vulnerability 15-bed emergency shelter for women experiencing homelessness, commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), substance use disorder (SUD), and mental health disorders.
HARBOR unlocks access to all of LIFT’s outreach and advocacy programming under one roof. Programming reaches an estimated 315 individuals annually and provides:
Overnight emergency shelter for exploited women providing basic needs (food, hygiene, clothing)
On-going case management for re-housing support, stabilization resources (SNAP, SSI, etc), and legal services
On-site SUD education, non-clinical assessment, & referral to SUD treatment and mental health services
On-site medical care for individuals who are often immuno-compromised and/or utilizing ERs for care
Legal services (advocacy in healthcare, criminal justice/legal, family matters, etc)
Transportation to off-site programs
On-site self help meetings, educational & support groups
“We are so lucky to have a new space to fully let our HARBOR program develop and give survivors a place to feel safe. HARBOR sits on a half-acre of private green space and is a 4,000+ sq.ft. facility. The open floor plans and large windows make our four-story building inviting and spacious,” said Courtney Ross Escobar, Chief Operating Officer and In-house Legal Counsel for LIFT. “HARBOR now embodies the safety and security evoked by its name, both in its programming and environment.”
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, due to a clear gap in existing shelters meeting the needs of prostituted women, LIFT piloted HARBOR. 94% of the women in HARBOR’s pilot were able to transition to an appropriate next step including the correct level of care for their SUD, permanent supported housing, and other supportive programs they required.. HARBOR staff worked tirelessly to make it happen and ensure the safety of these women throughout their transition. Now, experienced Case Managers and Peer Mentors are onsite around the clock, ready and able to provide support, connection to resources, and advocacy on-demand and in the moments when it matters most. HARBOR works in crisis response and stabilization intervention for our most vulnerable community members.
“Prostituted people deserve a space where they feel safe and connected to community. HARBOR provides access to critical resources for a marginalized population that has been overlooked and ignored. Not only is HARBOR an important next step in fulfilling LIFT’s mission to end the sex trade, it raises the visibility and needs of prostituted people.” Nikki Bell, Chief Executive Officer and Director of LIFT, added, “We want to acknowledge and give our sincere gratitude to the City of Worcester and the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services for their support and generosity in helping to make this project possible.”
To support LIFT or inquire as to current volunteer opportunities or upcoming events, please visit our website at www.LiftWorcester.org or donate here.
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LIFT is a nonprofit organization committed to ending the sex trade. Our mission is to end systems of prostitution through the implementation of the Equality Model. Led by and for survivors, we’re building a world where survivors are valued, equal members of the community. Their voice and choices are honored implicitly. Our vision is a world where systems of prostitution no longer exist and people no longer feel it is their right to purchase access to another human’s body.
Website: https://www.liftworcester.org/
FB: @LivingInFreedomTogether
Instagram: @LIFTWorcester
Twitter: @LIFTWorcester