With Latisha’s House Foundation being a minimum 10-month program that is trauma-informed and H.E.A.R.T. (Heart Emotional Affective Response to Trauma) certified by the Center for Trauma Studies, it is the only long-term program in Virginia and one of the few human trafficking service organizations of its kind on the East Coast. Latisha’s House Foundation (LHF) tackles the issue of human trafficking by providing specialized victim services to all victims of human trafficking within the Greater Williamsburg, Hampton Roads region.Services to all trafficking victims entail “wrap around” services including safe housing either by referral or in-house, and a holistic trauma-informed program for female victims of human trafficking that is empowerment based and survivor-led.
At Latisha’s House, clients typically need a minimum of (8) months to a year to stabilize in their journey to healing, safety and economic self-sufficiency. Here victims of trafficking are allowed to stay as long as needed to heal from trauma and learn to live a successful empowered life with positive sustainable life and employment/educational skills. LHF also provides beds for emergency and short-term situations but is primarily set up as a long-term residential program for victims.
Key personnel and project partners are responsible for delivering specialized services to victims of trafficking including 24-hour trauma-informed care at a long-term safe house, case management for economic empowerment and education, physical and mental health services, drug addiction and other services. Personnel includes seven HEART certified staff members, one Green Cross Certified Field Traumatologist, one Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and one Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
