The Problem
A person is sold or forced into the sex-trafficking trade. This is usually a girl or boy from 12-15 years of age who is betrayed by family, friends, boyfriends, or strangers.
They work for little to no pay for years until they finally find their escape, or are turned out, left for dead or found in the hospital due to health reasons, or abuse. They are given another chance, but three to six months later they are unable to take care of themself and fall back into the life they know all too well: trafficking. Sex trafficking is the second largest organized crime ring in the US and is growing. They are one of the 89% of sex-trafficked survivors who have been forced back into the $99 billion industry.
But...
What if there was a safe place for this person to go? A place to receive long-term care, resources for restoration, and a community dedicated to assisting them in building skills for re-entering society as a healed and thriving survivor? This person then has only a 20% or less chance of recidivism. They have hope, they have support, a hand up to better themselves and learn something new, a new life, to be restored to their given purpose.
This is the vision of The Cornerstone Project.
Residency
The central component to The Cornerstone Project will be the home where our program is based. The homes will be discreet and secluded with security as a primary focus. This space, along with the components of our Program will promote physical, psychological and emotional safety.
The next step for The Cornerstone Project is to secure the funds to either rent a space, or to buy/build a home.
Each individual will have their own room, to promote their individual identity and give them a safe space to recover and heal.
The long term vision is for a 20 + acre ranch where 5 acres will be dedicated to women 19-34, 5 acres for girls ages 4-18, and 5 acres for boys through age 18. The other acreage would be used for growing domes, equestrian, common buildings, rec room, educational space.
Today we have two main fundraising focuses. First, to raise funds for our first home in Archuleta County, and our goal for opening is Summer 2023. We anticipate that this will be a rental and that we will open by providing housing for women 18-34. Our second focus is the capital campaign to raise funds for the Cornerstone Ranch, so that we can reach, support and walk alongside as many survivors as possible.
Safe | Discrete | Private
In a 2018 survey of child sex trafficking victims, 55% of respondents reported being in school while they were being trafficked.