Program for victims of human trafficking to get on their feet for 'new beginning'

Anybody moving into their first home or apartment will tell you that starting a household is expensive.

From stocking the pantry to buying items such as towels and a toilet bowl cleaner, the costs can be significant. Now, a program in Windsor is hoping to help victims of human trafficking get their new homes in order.

"House to Home" is a new project of WEFiGHT, an anti-human trafficking support program run by Legal Assistance of Windsor.

On Wednesday it was announced that Caesars Windsor Cares, the philanthropic arm of the casino, has donated $5,000 toward the initiative.

"Many of our survivors come to us with very little of personal possessions, and next to nothing in terms of finances," said Amanda Pierce, WEFiGHT's anti-human trafficking project coordinator.

"We work with our survivors to get access to social assistance, and to begin to find housing ... but unfortunately, those assistance cheques only go so far."

Tap on the player to hear Pierce's conversation with Afternoon Drive host Chris dela Torre.

Under the "House to Home" program, human trafficking survivors go shopping for items such as cleaners, dish rags, shower curtains and small kitchen items when they are set to move into housing.

"When I got in touch with WEFiGHT, I didn't have any personal things — I came back to Windsor with the clothes on my back," said Victoria Morrison, a client of WEFiGHT who was able to purchase supplies under the new program.

"They helped jumpstart my new beginning and gave me a good chance back at life." 

Pierce hopes the $5,000 donation can be used to purchase supplies for 50 people.