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Redemption Ridge helps victims of sex trafficking Group now has space for assessment, administration Comment By Buffy Pollock Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Buffy Pollock Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News A faith-based advocacy program for victims of sex trafficking is opening an office in Medford this week that will house administration and provide a space for victim assessment. Founded four years ago, Redemption Ridge Advocacy was recently donated space at 503 Airport Road, Medford, by AmericanWest Bank. An open house is planned from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. today. "Human trafficking is a very big issue and many people aren't aware," Redemption Ridge Executive Director Sharre Whitson said. "This is one of the core purposes of the advocacy center — to help make people aware." Whitson said the space is an important step in the nonprofit's goal of providing services for victims in the Rogue Valley and surrounding region. Redemption Ridge hopes to open Grace House, a planned seven-bed residential treatment center for victims age 11-17, by year's end. Some 18,000 Oregon children are homeless at any given time, according to recent surveys. Whitson said studies have shown about a third are approached or lured into sex trafficking within their first 48 hours of homelessness. Whitson said human traffickers view Interstate 5 as a main artery for servicing their crimes. Redemption Ridge focuses on education, prevention and intervention for victims and includes outreach programs and a hotline. Whitson said the new space is for administration and advocacy. "We can't do the initial intake and assessment at the home because of the fact that actual perpetrators will 'plant' to find out where the house is. So the house has to remain highly confidential," Whitson said. Construction for Grace House, she said, will begin in coming weeks with services donated by a local contractor. "When you look at the statistics in Oregon alone, we are looking at 6,600 children that have been affected and only 200 are actually reported," Whitson said. "For every reported case, there are so many that go unreported because of the nature of this crime." Caleb LaPlante, Southern Oregon outreach coordinator for Abolish Child Trafficking Oregon, which lobbies for legislation against human trafficking and does outreach to regional high schools, said he was pleased to see Redemption Ridge moving toward its goals of providing onsite services and a residential facility. LaPlante said support for trafficking victims is far from meeting the need in the region. "Redemption Ridge is so close to getting this off the ground," LaPlante said. "To see this opportunity happening in Southern Oregon is really great. The flip side is that it's really just a drop in the bucket, with at least 100,000 underage victims of human trafficking every year in this country." For information on Redemption Ridge, contact Whitson at [email protected] or visit  www.redemptionridge.com . Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected].   By Buffy Pollock Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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