Seattle And Underage Prostitution
by Justin & Lindsey Holcomb
Justin & Lindsey are members of Mars Hill Church and come to us by way of Virginia where Justin taught at the University of Virginia. Justin taught in the sociology department, specializing in violence against women, and Lindsey was a case manager for sexual assault and domestic violence victims. Justin and Lindsey founded and direct Mosaic, which is a non-profit organization that initiates projects in southern Sudan and Uganda that serves those who are suffering in these areas. Justin is also ordained in Sudan and is a training officer for the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army, where he trains chaplains to aid rape victims in the war torn country.
Seattle is one of the top cities for underage prostitution in the United States. Pimps move girls from Seattle down to Portland, through Sacramento to Los Angeles, then to Las Vegas and back again.
An estimated 300,000 American children are at risk every year of being exploited sexually in the sex industry.
Pimps target vulnerable youth, such as runaway, homeless, and foster-care youth. The average age of entry into prostitution is 12-13 years old in the U.S. One reason that most prostitutes enter the trade in their early teens is directly related to the age at which many were victims of incest. The average age of incest is 12 years old. Incest and other forms of abuse often drive a child to run away from home and become vulnerable to the slick tactics of pimps and other predators.
Pimps prey on girls and boys who are alone, desperate, and alienated. Once they move the victim from her or his hometown into a strange city, the pimp can easily force her to work as a prostitute.
Thousands of children and women are victimized in this way every year. The FBI coordinated a cross-country sting in February 2009, with local and federal law enforcement. Seattle was listed as the number one spot for underage prostitution out of the 29 cities that participated.
The key “track” areas in Seattle where women are forced to work include five motels on Aurora North:
- The Seattle Motor Inn, 12245 Aurora Ave. N.
- The Wallingford Inn, 4453 Winslow Pl. N.
- The Italia Motel, 4129 Aurora Ave. N.
- The Fremont Inn, 4251 Aurora Ave. N.
- The Isabella Motel, 4117 Aurora Ave. N.
These motels—all owned by Dean and Jill Inman—are currently undergoing investigation for a variety of criminal charges. A court hearing is scheduled in October to determine the possible closing of these five motels. Closing these five motels would be a successful move in the fight to end sex trafficking as it would give pimps and “Johns” five less places to exploit women. For more, read Vernal Coleman’s Seattle Weekly article.
There are roughly 300 to 500 juvenile prostitutes in King County alone at any given time, being exploited in Seattle and surrounding areas. Of these teens, 80 to 90 percent have pimps who are gang members and who routinely force them to have sex with several men a day. For more on this, read Sara Jean Green’s Seattle Times article.
On October 13, 2009, there is a court hearing to determine the possible funding for a pilot program that would rescue and restore the sexually exploited youth in King County.
The City of Seattle and King County created an innovative shelter and trauma services plan for sexually exploited minors, however, Kurt Triplett, the King County Executive, has cut the funding from his 2010 budget.
Ways to get involved
Here are some things community groups (“micro-missions”) or an individual could do. Each of these ways of getting involved “seeks the welfare of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7) and spreads the good name of Jesus and MHC in the community more.
Donate
Books, art supplies, toiletries, youth appropriate men’s pants (size L & XL), youth appropriate women’s tops (size small through XXL), women’s underwear (size 5 & 6), socks, shoes, coats, sweatshirts are all needed at Spruce Street Secure Crisis Residential Center (206-587-0992) and New Horizons Ministries (206-374-0866).
Volunteer
Mentoring and teaching—lead a group (outdoors, arts, educational), bible study, or workshop at Spruce Street Secure Crisis Residential Center (206-587-0992) and New Horizons Ministries (206-374-0866).
Serve as a Late Night Outreach Volunteer (LNO): Volunteers work directly with young women in prostitution. Commitment is for one year, serving three Friday nights per month. These shifts last about five hours and include prayer, going on outreach, doing paperwork, and setting up and supervising the outreach table. This opportunity is through New Horizons Ministries (206-374-0866).
Cook and serve a meal for the youth—purchasing, preparing, serving, and cleaning up breakfast or dinner for 40-75 youth during drop-in. A minimum of four individuals is needed for a group who commit to serve one night per month for a minimum of six months at New Horizons Ministries (206-374-0866).
Serve behind the scenes
Office management, fundraising, grant writing, and research for Spruce Street Secure Crisis Residential Center (206-587-0992) and New Horizons Ministries (206-374-0866).
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