Our Mission
Shining light, bringing hope to women involved in the commerical sex trade in our county.
Our Goals
Next step: Gather start-up funding and volunteers to open “LightHouse Dog Treats,” a social enterprise baking organic, non-GMO animal treats. In addition to becoming a funding stream, we want to be able to hire women from the Pop-Up program on a cash basis, to give them the dignity of an honorable paycheck. Each woman participating from the street would be paired with a mentor with the goal of facilitating their escape from the life.
Starting out in 2010 as Hepzibah House, it was rebranded in 2021, to LightHousePBC.
The non-profit continues to work with survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking, providing services across four critical sectors:
- Pop-Up at the Laundromat: A mentoring program for individuals being trafficked along the Federal/Dixie Highway corridor in Palm Beach County.
- Operate JohnSchoolPBC – a diversion program for individuals arrested for prostitution. Separate courses for buyers and sellers, focusing on key issues that drive the behavior in an effort to address both supply and demand.
- Provide counseling services/ trauma therapy/case management for individuals who have been freed from sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.
- Raise awareness of modern day slavery in order to prevent our youth and other vulnerable populations from being tricked, trapped and exploited.
- Provide CEUs to medical and mental health providers to help them identify trafficking victims in their fields of expertise – since victims very rarely identify as such.
- Linked with Sharing One Love PBC: a consortium of Palm Beach County stakeholders serving this population. [https://www.sharingonelove.org/content/sharing-one-lovepalm-beach-county?]
We have provided mental health counseling, career counseling, mentoring and trauma therapy for almost 90 women to date, and sheltered 14 in a previous safe house program.
Our Strategies
Pop-Up at the Laundromat
Weekly outreach for women in the life at laundromats in tough areas: one off Lucerne and Federal in Lake Worth Beach, another in the Northwood area of West Palm Beach, the other off Broadway in Riviera Beach. We bring a shade tent, collapsible chairs, refreshments, toiletries, gently used clothing, cut flowers, quarters & detergent – offering a load of laundry for women that come. We are building bridges for women to cross when they are ready to leave the life. Want to learn more? CLICK BELOW to see how you can get involved.
John School Palm Beach County
For those arrested on misdemeanor prostitution charges – either buying or selling – our John School classes, along with recent STI testing and court fee payment, will get those charges removed from your record.
The whole idea is education! Both buyers and sellers need to know the 40+ sexually transmitted infections that are out there. While buyers pay tuition, sellers are scholarshipped. The school is a funding stream for LHPBC.
BUYERS’ CLASSES
Buyers’ classes have a section presented by Becky & a trafficking survivors titled, “Facts Vs. Myths of Prostitution.” The survivor shares what it was like for her in relation to the myths commonly held by buyers. The afternoon is a group therapy session covering socialization, objectification, pornography and sexual addictions over driving commercial sex purchases. These classes are offered in English as well as Spanish.
SELLERS’ CLASSES
Diversion Program for Felony Seller Offenders has been beyond us until now. We created two different approaches to work with this population, since the John School deferral program is only for misdemeanor charges – while 25% of the 146 arrests for sellers since LightHousePBC assumed the John School training were for felony charges.
For one: LHPBC has offered to partner with the State’s Attorney’s office by overseeing a felony offender’s participation in a drug rehab program, then transferring to a sober house. The rehab begins the process of recovering from the trauma, rape and life skill deficits often behind the lifestyle. LHPBC assumes therapeutic services once the rehab services expire. If they walk, we report them to the State Attorney’s office and the original charges and sentencing are reinstated.
For two: We have contacted the judges working these cases with registered mail alerting them to the changes in the law, and asking them to enforce the provision requiring John School for felony charges as part of probation for those individuals not opting in for the drug rehab opportunity.
However, 25% of the 146 arrests for sellers since LightHousePBC assumed the John School training were for felony charges. This option could make a very significant difference in the number of women being prostituted on the streets!!
Our Dreams
Safe House/Restoration Program
Create a safe house program for helping survivors move from victims, to survivors, to triumphant thrivers! Processing trauma, and addressing life skill deficits take both time and energy rarely available without some external support. We ran a small, five bed, safe house before, we can do it again!! We need the financial backing from individuals and businesses willing to invest in their community, grants and an in house income stream like the organic, non-GMO animal treats.
Transitional Housing
This would involve a multi-plex housing unit. Full time employment would be required. Rent would be paid as a percentage of income. If their car blew up, or they lost their job, they would not be on the street again at the end of the month. This enables survivors to learn to walk in their liberty with a safety net.
Our Dedication
We have been serving this population in Palm Beach County since 2010. Join us! CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER
Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.
-Author unknown