A newly renovated house in Kentucky is set to provide housing for survivors of human trafficking through the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative, Catholic Charities’ response to human trafficking.

St. Anne’s House will offer four independent housing units for four individuals for up to a year, according to Amy Nace-DeGonda, director of the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative.

She said the program is meant to support housing stability while connecting residents with resources for long-term goals.

“We do housing and in our housing, we provide independent housing for individuals,” Nace-DeGonda said. “So, this house is just another facet of that, where we’re able to provide 4 different units for four individuals for up to a year. Providing housing stability and making sure that we connect them to resources that will help them with that long-term goal and Identifying any types of support they need while they’re there.”

Nace-DeGonda said the Bakhita Empowerment initiative has provided services to more than 600 people since 2008, including long-term case management and referral case management.

“What I like for people to understand is that trafficking is prevalent every single day,” Nace-DeGonda said. “It’s not just at certain times of the year here. It’s unfortunately happening in our communities every day.”

Kathleen Niestadt, an adviser with the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative, said she brings lived experience to her work with the organization.

“I was trafficked from the ages of 9 to like 11 and a half, and it was a family member that trafficked me,” Niestadt said.

Niestadt said she wants other survivors to know they have value and can move forward.

“I still struggle with a lot of things from my abuse, but I want to help empower anyone who has been sold and to let them know that they have value and that they can come out of this and go on and be a changemaker in the world,” Niestadt said. “They can be productive and they can live the value that they really have.”

Niestadt said St. Anne’s House will help meet a need for survivors.

“This house is going to be very beneficial,” Niestadt said.

If you’d like to learn even more, donate or volunteer, visit Catholic Charities of Louisville.

A newly renovated house in Kentucky is set to provide housing for survivors of human trafficking through the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative, Catholic Charities’ response to human trafficking.

St. Anne’s House will offer four independent housing units for four individuals for up to a year, according to Amy Nace-DeGonda, director of the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative.

She said the program is meant to support housing stability while connecting residents with resources for long-term goals.

“We do housing and in our housing, we provide independent housing for individuals,” Nace-DeGonda said. “So, this house is just another facet of that, where we’re able to provide 4 different units for four individuals for up to a year. Providing housing stability and making sure that we connect them to resources that will help them with that long-term goal and Identifying any types of support they need while they’re there.”

Nace-DeGonda said the Bakhita Empowerment initiative has provided services to more than 600 people since 2008, including long-term case management and referral case management.

“What I like for people to understand is that trafficking is prevalent every single day,” Nace-DeGonda said. “It’s not just at certain times of the year here. It’s unfortunately happening in our communities every day.”

Kathleen Niestadt, an adviser with the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative, said she brings lived experience to her work with the organization.

“I was trafficked from the ages of 9 to like 11 and a half, and it was a family member that trafficked me,” Niestadt said.

Niestadt said she wants other survivors to know they have value and can move forward.

“I still struggle with a lot of things from my abuse, but I want to help empower anyone who has been sold and to let them know that they have value and that they can come out of this and go on and be a changemaker in the world,” Niestadt said. “They can be productive and they can live the value that they really have.”

Niestadt said St. Anne’s House will help meet a need for survivors.

“This house is going to be very beneficial,” Niestadt said.

If you’d like to learn even more, donate or volunteer, visit Catholic Charities of Louisville.