Help trafficked youth & children find hope in the Berkshires

Help youth and children in the Berkshires, find hope and healing from human trafficking.

For far too long, the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), also known as the sexual trafficking of children, has been happening in Berkshire County and has gone under the radar. Every year, minors within our own communities are being trafficked all throughout Berkshire County. Both boys and girls are also being brought over state lines to Connecticut, New York, and Vermont to be exploited. This is happening to children ages 6-18 from all different social classes, including the poverty-stricken and the wealthy. There was a study done in 2022 that found after a child runs away, within 6 minutes they are approached by a trafficker. What starts with a friendly conversation online can quickly turn into a nightmare.

Every year, there are minors who are recovered from human trafficking in Berkshire County. After they are recovered, the question is, “What’s next?” The answer is, HOPE!

We are excited to share that the “Berkshire Hope House” is in the process of opening and will provide an answer to that very question. The “Berkshire Hope House” will be a place where children can find hope and healing in their recovery process. This will be a safe place for them to be and one that they can call their own.

The “Hope House” will be the first of its kind in Berkshire County with an incredible collaborative team at the heart of it all. Those on this team have already been in the fight against the trafficking of children and have extensive experience. The Berkshire Dream Center is honored to join this incredible network and be one piece of the wheel that’s already moving forward by providing the building for this important mission to take place. At the “Hope House,” we will have many things to support the children in their journey, including:

- A survivor mentor working directly with the children

- Trauma-informed staff

- After school help with computer programming

- A reset room where they can unwind

- New clothing, hygiene items, blankets, school supplies, and other miscellaneous items for them to shop from

- A kitchen & dining room to learn cooking skills and enjoy meals together (Going to be built)

- And many things for them to enjoy, including a recreational room, art station, music classes, after school snacks, and fun events together

Because of the sensitivity of this cause, we will not be disclosing this location and ask for everyone to respect the privacy of these children. Their healing process is more important than anything else. Thank you for your understanding and discretion.

We have an updated project total to get Phase 1 of the Hope House completed and to meet our city's requirements. Please help us reach this goal to get the Hope House open for these children so that they can begin to have this place of their own. We already just brought in $5,000 from the $48,000 project estimate bringing it down to $43,000!