Breaking Free Inc
Programs
Program 1 [2021]
Permanent Supportive Housing - Housing, with supportive services as described below under the women's program, is provided in two master-leased buildings collectively called "the village place" with 36 one- and two-bedroom units in Saint Paul. In addition, Breaking Free, inc. provides housing advocacy so that our clients are able to obtain services with Hearth Connection and Section 8 for alternative solutions for PSH. We also assist in the navigation to access emergency shelter and transitional housing. During fiscal year 2020, Breaking Free provided services to 36 households in our PSH housing program, 12 households via Section 8, 7 households via Hearth Connection. We were also able to support 50 individuals through our emergency shelter from September 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$822.4KProgram 2 [2021]
Women's Program: This is the core program and gateway to other services provided by Breaking Free. After an initial intake assessment is completed, a case management plan is established and enacted. We provide advocacy services to our clients who are often dealing with concurring issues of poverty, homelessness, drug addiction, and sexual violence, all of which necessitates a holistic case management approach in order to overcome each of the barriers. Breaking Free staff provides information and referrals to appropriate services and advocates on behalf of participants with other systems and agencies. We offer weekly in-house educational support groups facilitated by breaking free staff. This group is called sisters of survival (SOS) and is a 14-week, intensive education group that examines sex trafficking. Trading sex for money or anything of value is commodification. Breaking Free assess the impact that exploitation and commodification has on their lives, and covers issues related to addiction and recovery. These groups provide information about the dynamics of sex trafficking and other forms of violence against women and girls and offer a space for women to share their experiences. Upon graduation from the SOS program, survivors are encouraged to join the alumni support group. This program involves weekly, ongoing group meetings with topics including relationship issues, building self-esteem, money management, parenting skills, and health care. We also contract with Chris Stark and other nationally known abolitionists to offer support groups through art therapy, writing, and drama. We focus on empowerment of our ladies and in addition to alumni, we offer several ways to build life, social, and professional skills. We have a writer's bureau and speaker's bureau to increase healing through factoring in transferable skills and learning new skills. In 2018 we started a social enterprise arm so that our survivors can create jewelry for sale and our clients keep the proceeds. This is a huge empowerment opportunity, and we are working on sustainable efforts for long-term success. We have a life & job skills education program which helps women who may have never held a real job to become employable. We help with resume building and job searches and encourage women to complete their GED and seek higher education, which will help them to avoid being revictimized due to economic desperation. We often offer internships when possible for continued empowerment. Another group for continued accountability and progress is our relapse prevention group in which a chemical dependency counselor works closely with women once a week to discuss and deal with chemical addiction issues. We meet our clients where they are at, so breaking free operates a drop-in center that provides the necessities of a shower, safe place to rest, food, clothing, personal and household items to exploited women, girls, and their children. We also reach out to new and potential clients through community and street outreach. Breaking Free conducts street outreach in the areas of the Twin Cities that are known for the highest incidence of trafficking. Staff distributes STD information along with hygiene kits while building rapport and relationships with victims on the streets and letting them know about our programs and resources if they need help or are in immediate danger. Breaking Free also collaborates with the Ramsey County law enforcement, the BCA, Homeland Security, the Department of Corrections assisting with implementation of the Health Start Program where we collaborate with the MN Prison Doula Project and Shakopee Prison. We collaborate with many stakeholders in the community to affect change. In an effort to combat the demand for sex trafficking, Breaking Free operates a restorative justice program where we dissect the messages that people have while purchasing somebody for sex. We dispel myths through real life survivor voices.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$771.2KProgram 3 [2021]
The auxiliary programs consist of the men breaking free ("John School"), pre-court diversion, presentations and trainings, and outreach.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$34.9K
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