Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

Milwaukee NNSnewsMilwaukee NNSSearch
Subscribe to NNS today!
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Arts and Recreation
    • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Public Safety
    • NNS Spotlight
    • Special Report
  • Posts From Community
    • Submit a Story
  • Community Voices
  • How To
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Local Video
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect
    • NNS WGLB 1560 Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • News 414
    • The neighborhoods we cover
  • News414
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University


Language: English English Spanish Spanish

You are here: Home / Home / Carousel / New group home gives hope to girls transitioning out of trafficking

New group home gives hope to girls transitioning out of trafficking

September 30, 2015 by Allison Dikanovic 18 Comments

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Chandra Cooper recently opened Grateful Girls Safe Haven for young women transitioning out of sex trafficking. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)

Chandra Cooper recently opened Grateful Girls Safe Haven for young women transitioning out of sex trafficking. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)

Inspirational quotes fill the wall by the staircase and sit in decorative frames on shelves in the living room. Bright pinks, blues and golds add pops of color on bedspreads, rugs and tablecloths. Fresh flowers are in a vase on the kitchen counter and printed on the pillows in the living room.

For the young women staying at the Grateful Girls Safe Haven, it may be the first time that they truly feel at home.

“Every day their life resembles one like anyone else who lives in a house with a family… When they walk in and out every day, they see motivation,” said Chandra Cooper, the founder and executive director of Grateful Girls Safe Haven.

This kind of environment is not what the residents are used to. The young women, ages 15-21, are transitioning out of the sex trade in Milwaukee.



“All the girls that come into the house have been a part of some kind of sex trafficking,” including prostitution, Cooper said.

The group home is decorated with encouraging messages. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)

The group home is decorated with encouraging messages. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)

Grateful Girls Safe Haven, a state-licensed group home, is the first residence catering to this specific population in Milwaukee County. Since it opened in July, its six beds have consistently been full. Right now, all of the girls who stay in the home are in high school. They are referred to the home by the state and are able to stay until they are 21, but Cooper predicts that most will leave at 18.

“There is a housing need for this type of care, and that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing… While there are different group homes, this is a specialized population. They can’t just live anywhere,” Cooper said.

Cooper said that she has had a vision for creating the shelter since 2009.

“I used to be a crime beat television reporter, and I saw a lot of things. I really wanted to mentor and give back to girls and women in the community,” she said. Cooper also felt a personal connection to the issue. Though she grew up under the care of her mother and grandfather, Cooper said that her father was a pimp, and that has remained in the back of her mind. She says that this home is a way of bringing things full circle.

Milwaukee is considered a hub for human trafficking by politicians and community activists well versed on the problem. About 80 percent of the human trafficking cases reported in Wisconsin occur in the city of Milwaukee, according to the Human Trafficking Task Force of Greater Milwaukee.

“It’s so prevalent. It is a true issue,” Sen. Lena Taylor said. Taylor visited Grateful Girls Safe Haven along with Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch recently to learn about the work being done there and how the state can further support it so more young women may be served.

Grateful Girls Safe Haven provides young women with individual and group counseling, daily living skills classes, job skills, training programs and prenatal care coordination. The organization also works to get the girls proper documentation and identification.

“The idea for their time here, besides obviously being a safe place for them to be, is that we are giving them the skills, the confidence, the decision-making abilities, the critical thinking skills, to be able to get away from us. We kind of want to work ourselves out of a job and have them be prepared to go live as successful adults,” said Latoya Newsom, the Grateful Girls public health specialist.

One of the primary goals of the organization is to create a stable environment for the residents.

“When you’re in the sex trade, you don’t know where you’re going to be each day,” Cooper said.

Grateful Girls also has a community resource center on 26th St. and Lisbon Avenue that is open to the public, and the organization is hoping to expand its housing services in the near future to reach more women who are vulnerable to trafficking. Cooper said she plans to open up a residential support facility for girls ages 12-18 and a transitional boarding house for girls over 18 who are no longer required to be involved in a state program but still seek supportive housing opportunities.

The staff of Grateful Girls Safe Haven is dedicated to showing the girls unconditional love, which they may not have felt in the past, Newsom said.

“When you’ve engaged in this lifestyle or you were living on the streets, you’re used to everything being a transaction, and that’s what we try to get away from here,” Newsom said. “There are rules of the house and things you have to do, but guess what? We’re still going to be here for you.”

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: Carousel, Health and Wellness, Home, Neighborhoods, News, Public Safety

About Allison Dikanovic

Facebook |  Twitter | More stories from Allison

Comments

  1. Katie says

    September 30, 2015 at 8:42 am

    How can we help? Is there a need for any volunteering…cleaning, painting, yardwork, tutoring?

    Reply
  2. Monique says

    September 30, 2015 at 11:16 am

    I’m interested in helping, please contact me.

    Reply
  3. Haydee Perry says

    September 30, 2015 at 12:06 pm

    Hello I’m a recent graduate from UWM and I was wondering how I could get involved in your organization. This is a very positive program and contributes substantially to poorer communities. I would really love to be apart of this. Please contact me with further information.
    Thank you

    Reply
  4. Danielle says

    September 30, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    I’ve been trying to reach out to the owner for a few months now because I have a bunch of clothes that I’m trying to get rid of. Most of them are business casual to help with interviews so if anyone knows the owner, please ask her to check her Facebook inbox and get back to me. (message may be in her “other” box)

    Reply
  5. Pamela Jones says

    September 30, 2015 at 6:40 pm

    I’m a Care Coordinater for an indenpendly own agency that provides Prenatal and Child care coordination services. If you feel you group of ladies could benefit from our services please let us know. Bless you for your mission and vision. We are also open to any volunteer opportunities you may requir.

    Reply
  6. Angela Malone says

    September 30, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    I would like to volunteer to teach biblical truths

    Reply
  7. Loretta says

    September 30, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    How can I help? Are volunteers needed?

    Reply
  8. Oanh says

    October 1, 2015 at 1:04 am

    Homecoming is around the corner i am willing to offer nail services

    Reply
  9. Sharon Cassel says

    October 1, 2015 at 6:35 am

    Would like to know more

    Reply
  10. Denise Turner says

    October 1, 2015 at 4:38 pm

    I have a 4/2 house that could be used for this organization.

    Reply
  11. Pamela Sylvain says

    October 3, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    Hi I live in Miami Florida. How can I help.

    Reply
  12. Khionna says

    October 4, 2015 at 11:45 pm

    Can I donate clothes? Or item?

    Reply
  13. Mamie says

    October 31, 2015 at 8:11 am

    Love in action!

    Reply
  14. Debbie says

    December 3, 2015 at 1:42 pm

    Really support this type of service. I am a therapist and see a lot of young women. Some are vulnerable for this type of lifestyle. Would really like to be involved!

    Reply
  15. Quiana Rice says

    April 3, 2016 at 7:44 pm

    I live in Ga & would like to volunteer.

    Reply
  16. KARLA Bryant says

    May 20, 2016 at 9:38 am

    I love the work that you are doing. I worked at a teen group home . The Girls need love and it is great that you’re showing them just that! I would love to help.

    Reply
  17. Debra Weaver says

    November 24, 2016 at 7:49 am

    I love the mission of this organization. I would love to volunteer. I am a mother and grandmother and know all too well the perils of these young ladies having gone through the experience with my grand daughter.

    Reply
  18. Angelia says

    December 19, 2016 at 9:35 am

    Hi,

    I have a ministry called Pearls & Lace Women’s Ministries, Lcoated in the City of Milwaukee. We are looking to minister hope and give hyigene bags to women and girls. Please contact us at (262)320-7885.

    God Bless !

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Recent News

5 things to know and do the weekend of May 26

He spent 20 years in prison. Now he’s spending his life helping those who have been incarcerated.

Leaders once again ponder future of The Domes

Advertisement
Give today to support our mission. Donate to Milwaukee NNS.
Advertisement

News

  • Arts and Recreation
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • NNS Spotlight
  • Special Reports

Engage with us

  • Posts from Community
  • Community Voices
  • Submit a Story

About NNS

  • Milwaukee NNS Staff
  • Partners
  • News414
  • The neighborhoods we cover
  • Careers
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS feed

Communities

Contact

mailing address
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diederich College of Communication
Marquette University
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Johnston Hall 430
Milwaukee, WI 53233

email
info@milwaukeenns.org

phone & fax
PHONE: 414.604.6397 FAX: 414.288.6494


Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a project of Diederich College of Communication and Marquette University.
© 2020 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Terms of use.
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233 • info@milwaukeenns.org

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in