
Free2Hope, Inc. has an excellent reputation for meeting the basic human needs of vulnerable and victimized women in Louisville, Kentucky. We recognize that a dedicated place for resources to guide people toward self-sufficiency is the best way to create real change in individuals and their communities. Free2Hope has designed several opportunities for women to increase their understanding of trauma, build resiliency, and increase their self-efficacy. We have learned that women who have been victimized desire to fulfill the basic psychological needs of competence, relatedness, and autonomy. We hope that by promoting a peaceful and inclusive center for sustainable development, we can help women attain their goals for a better future.
Free2Hope, Inc. attained 501(3)(c) non-profit status in 2013.
Free2Hope’s mission involves these three goals:
(1) To educate the community and increase awareness of human trafficking and sexual-based crimes in Kentucky.
(2) To provide programs that equip local businesses and communities to address and prevent human trafficking in their areas.
(3) To provide a Women’s Drop-in Center for female victims of domestic violence and sex crimes, including human trafficking; to get help with basic needs, such as finding local resources, and providing a supportive environment for people to heal from traumatic experiences.
Trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons, using the threat or use by force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, the abuse of power or a position of vulnerability or of the giving and receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or the removal of organs.
A child being groomed for a sexual purpose: Commercial sex work, sex shows, pornography, abuse through new technologies, including online sexual exploitation with web cameras, stripping, non-commercial sexual exploitation, and marriage for sexual exploitation.
Sexual violence against children is recognized internationally as the most severe violation of human rights and the worst form of child abuse and exploitation. It can have severe, long-term, and even life-threatening effects on a child’s physical, psychological, spiritual, emotional, and social development.
Kentucky is a “pass-through state,” meaning that trafficked women or men tend to come from other cities but come through Kentucky on their way from one point to another. Traffickers prefer to make the victim leave the area they are from to lessen the chance they would run.
Our interstate highway system and high-profile sporting events like the Kentucky Derby have made the state part of the trafficking pipeline.
Free2Hope, Inc.
2539 W. Main Street Louisville, KY 40212
Executive Director Amy Leenerts: (502) 475-0555
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