INNER BEAUTY CENTER

Our first goal was to open a drop in center as a way to meet basic needs and build trusting relationships. We believe that all lives have inherent value and that each person has their own unique gifts and abilities that contribute to their personal value. We believe that regardless of choices and paths taken that their Creator/God has given those gifts and has a purpose filled with hope for them.

Street outreach was developed concurrently to promote attendance to the drop in center and make initial connections with women on the streets. We also supply basic needs with personal care items, seasonal accessory clothing and a meal.

We have developed relationships with other service providers in the Milwaukee area creating a network of places to refer women to as they step out of street prostitution/trafficking into a more stable lifestyle.

We are also developing a social enterprise as a way to offer more employ-ability and revenue that will assist with further their education or other needs that may require financial assistance.

The other area we have developed is support group and life coaching. After 6 years of operation a number of women in recovery were asking for emotional support. At that time we started a support group called Life2Life.

The first and foremost strategy is to build trusting relationships. This may take several weeks to several months and in some cases over a year before a woman will trust and disclose to us a need for help.

As mentioned above this strategy requires consistency in street outreach and providing for basic needs which show we care and are not judgmental toward their place in life.

Once the individual has requested assistance we do an assessment and intake to determine her needs. We also have individuals take the ACE test and explain the risks that develop with higher scores,

Patience is required when working with each woman as often it is several attempts to exit this life before they are ready to stay out.

Currently we have one paid staff and one stipend staff with approximately 25 volunteers that operate the all aspects of the program. We are seeking to increase our staffing to at minimum another full-time or two part-time staff.

When providing services to confirmed trafficking victims we are reimbursed through the Collaborative Grant we are sub-contracted with managed by Sojourner Peace Center.

We are seeking volunteers with specific skills to help meet the needs of our clients. For those we cannot meet they are referred to one of our partners.

We have never intended to be a "one stop" type of organization so the partnerships in Milwaukee, throughout Wisconsin and with organizations outside of Wisconsin are vital. Again, we are an entry point into services.

As mentioned above we have assisted and continue to be a support to 25 individuals with 18 individuals in forward progression of some type. They have not returned to drug use, prostitution or a trafficker. This past year we added 8 new clients to our advocacy program with 5 still moving forward with employment, stable living conditions and AODA recovery

In 2019 through the drop in center alone we served over 500 meals to 103 women as well as, provided clothing , personal care items, professional haircuts and a place to rest.

During street outreach we made over 600 connections with approximately 225 women.