The mission of The O’Connell House is to provide comprehensive services for women who have been trafficked who may also be pregnant or with a young child. It is a place where dignity will be restored and healing can occur.
Studies and data show that 88-92% of all survivors seek out medical care while being trafficked. We train healthcare professionals across the globe on how to identify a victim who is being trafficked and to take appropriate action. The O’Connell House provides safe homes for survivors.. We realize the more the healthcare systems identify victims, the greater the need for accurate placement for healing to help them on their journey to becoming survivors.
Our building itself has 15 very large bedrooms—enough to fit an extra crib or twin bed in addition to a double bed. Each bedroom also has its own private bathroom. There are currently 2 rooms not utilized by residents for overnight caregivers and a therapy room, leaving 13 rooms for residents. The house has an industrial size kitchen and laundry, as well as office space, meeting rooms, large dining area, an exercise area, storage room with clinician office area, and a beautiful Chapel for a place for prayer, meditation, etc
The O’Connell House partners with the local healthcare system, for primary, emergency and OBGyn care, along with mental health services. Other partners include local law enforcement, Homeland Security, FBI and other healthcare entities, working together to fill the house with residents.
Longer term, we hope to identify more properties to repurpose into safe houses for victims of trafficking, replicated by the O’Connell House Model.