State of Tennessee Awards Unprecedented 3.5-Million-Dollar Appropriation to End Slavery Tennessee
State budget will include largest appropriation to support human trafficking survivors in Tennessee history.
NASHVILLE, TN. April 29, 2021. The Tennessee General Assembly announced today that they have approved the budget for the state’s upcoming fiscal year, which will include an unprecedented 3.5-million-dollar appropriation to End Slavery Tennessee (ESTN). Filed as an amendment to his original budget proposal, Governor Bill Lee, requested the funding to combat the state’s second-fastest-growing crime.
“ESTN thanks Governor Bill Lee for the historic investment in community-based services for Tennessee’s human trafficking victims. State dollars will provide needed transitional housing and intensify evidence-based services to this population of trafficked women, men and children,” said Margie Quin, Chief Executive Officer of ESTN.
In 2014, ESTN was recognized by Governor Haslam’s public safety subcabinet as the single point of contact for human trafficking referrals in Middle Tennessee and is the flagship nonprofit for providing human trafficking survivor aftercare. The 3.5-million-dollar investment will enable ESTN to begin a five-phase plan, which includes building a Survivor Restoration Campus. The plan will allow ESTN to quadruple housing for survivors and increase evidence-based intensive services for survivors on their healing journey. “The multi-year opportunity provides stability and consistency for victims who have experienced just the opposite. We pray ESTN’s community of healing, housing and hope may be a beacon for human trafficking survivors in Tennessee,” Quin said.
Research has indicated that survivors of human trafficking need on average two years of support before they can begin to address the extensive, complex trauma experienced from being trafficked. Transition periods are the most common times for setback and regression. The state’s investment will enable ESTN to increase the length in programming and create affordable, safe housing opportunities that will provide smoother transition periods toward independence.
Phase one of ESTN’s plan includes the purchase of more than 30 acres in Davidson County and will involve renovations to existing structures to increase ESTN’s housing solutions for trafficked survivors beginning in 2022. Additionally, funds will immediately expand the professional staffing necessary to increase healing services to address the complex traumas faced by victims of trafficking. The Governor has expressed additional future considerations of funding in 2022 and 2023 to continue support for the five-phased plan, which could further increase residential and clinical services.
ABOUT END SLAVERY TENNESSEE. End Slavery Tennessee provides specialized case management and comprehensive aftercare for human trafficking survivors and strategically addresses the problem through advocacy, prevention and training of front-line professionals.
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