A proposed rehab center for victims of sex trafficking within the state of Georgia is meeting some stiff opposition from the neighbors.
Straight Street Revolution Ministries wants to build a residential campus for these victims to receive shelter, nutrition, appropriate medical treatment, psychological evaluation, counseling, education programs and life skills training intended to prepare the participants for re-entry into society. Participants would live on-site for at least a year, possibly more, and would receive 24/7 monitoring and care.
The site plan for the 50-acre plot of land on Weaver Road depicts an administrative building, barn, chapel, activity field, garden and meadow and up to 17 residential facilities. The immediate plan, however, is to build just one residential facility for four women, perfect that, and then worry about adding other houses at a later date.
This development will be what is considered a Phase 2 facility. Phase 1 requires all participants to undergo any necessary detoxification and counseling before being approved for Phase 2. Straight Street is partnering with Out of Darkness, which performs the Phase 1 process and last year rescued 300 women from sex trafficking.
The major concern of the neighbors is that of safety, both from the sex trafficking victims and from any pimps or gangs trying to take back the women.
Of the 300 women Straight Street and Out of Darkness rescued last year, not one of them had anyone come after them. Jenn Robson, the Beautiful Feet Ministries Director as part of Straight Street Ministries, will be in charge of the residential program for the sex trafficking victims. She explained to the crowd that pimps have a multitude of women that work for them. If one leaves, it is not worth the time, money or effort to go after that one woman; it also puts the pimp at risk by drawing attention to himself, so this is an almost not existent circumstance, according to Robson.
As for the women themselves, Robson wanted to reiterate that these are not criminals who are actively engaging in prostitution.
“These women are not as dangerous, they’re not criminals,” she said. “These are not inmate situations. They have chosen to come out of the (sex) industry. It’s by their choice.”
There was a major discussion on whether a fence encompassing the property would be constructed or if part of the buffer zone would be limited to just trees. That issue has yet to be decided upon.
There was also the matter of property values. Rampant speculation persisted amongst the crowd that surrounding property values would plummet if this facility were constructed.
It was at this time that the first gentleman in favor of the proposal spoke up and shared a rather emotional moment retelling the story of how he was a convicted felon that needed the help of a rehabilitation facility like the one Straight Street is proposing in order to turn his life around.
“This is not a matter of whether our property (values) go down or not,” he said fighting back tears. “It will no matter what, our economy is so unstable, but I promise you this, this is a matter of eternal importance.”
After that, others began to echo his statement.
“We all have a great heart about this,” another gentleman said from the back of the room. “Wanting this to happen but somewhere else. That somewhere else is going to have the same meeting like this and it’s going to come back to the same thing.
“At some point, we have to start. We have to be the cornerstone. We have to set our foot down and say, ‘Look, we’ll go. I’m going to be the one. I’m going to step up. God, you called us to be your hands and feet, so I’m going to step up.’”
Other issues that were brought up were the credibility of the volunteers and staff. Robson informed the room of her more than four years in the field, not including time spent training, as well as her masters degree in clinical mental health counseling with a focus on trauma counseling.
In addition, there was discussion about the recently-passed Amendment 2 of the Constitution of Georgia that states adult entertainment establishments are to fund the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund to pay for care and rehabilitative social services for individuals who have been or may be sexually exploited. Straight Street was being accused of trying to utilize this amendment to benefit their operation, but that conversation quickly fizzled when it was noted that the amendment only applies to children who are victims of sex trafficking; Straight Street would only be treating and caring for adults at or above the age of 18.
“Tonight was a great night,” said Beau Robson, the director of Straight Street Revolution Ministries, following the discussion. “I really do think people were respectful. It’s passionate issues, it’s safety issues so of course there are going to be some moments.
“We’re for the community, we’re not against it. We want to be a blessing. It’s just going to take time for fears to go away. It is our hope to go back and address as much as we can while still doing what we want to do.”
Robson said that Straight Street has wanted to build a facility like this for over two and a half years and has been actively searching for somewhere to build for a year and a half now. The Weaver Road property was the first piece of land to open up that has been a feasible option, he said.
Some of the land was actually donated to Straight Street for the purposes of constructing this facility. If the Hall County Planning Commission doesn’t approve the rezoning request at the meeting on Monday, they will have to start the search process all over again.
“If (God’s will) is for us to stay on that land,” Jenn Robson said. “Then I pray, I hope that the community would accept it and love us.”
The Hall County Planning Commission will meet Monday, November 21 at 5:15 p.m. at the Hall County Government Center on Brown's Bridge Road. The county planning staff has recommended approval of the rezoning with conditions.
