Every year approximately 600 young people in Massachusetts “age out” of foster care and residential systems (DYS, DSS), often with significant trauma histories. Many of them are unprepared for the challenges of adulthood and so are vulnerable to violence, homelessness, and exploitation. We believe it is essential to intervene early on, focusing on young women 18-24 years old who are at risk of involvement or are already involved in the street economies. We need to help them recognize their unique strengths, resilience, creativity, talents, and intelligence.
The Toll of Prostitution:
75-85% of prostitute women are homeless1,3 and if we define homelessness as lacking a safe place of one’s own, almost all prostitute women are homeless since shelter by an abusive partner or pimp is not a safe environment.
65-95% of women involved in prostitution were victims of childhood sexual abuse.
82% of prostitutes have been physically assaulted by customers and 68% have been raped.
In the United States only 20% to 30% of prostitution is street based. The majority consists of escort, massage, internet, and brothels, but violence is prevalence in all these systems.
90% of prostitute women increase their drugs or alcohol usage to cope with the life and 18 times more likely to be murdered than other women of their age and race.
75% of women who have engaged in long-term prostitution have made a serious attempt to commit suicide.
