Safe Home will provide 24-hour Intake and Stabilization Services to Women The Freedom Collective, a national anti-trafficking nonprofit, announced its first major expansion and partnership in Florida’s panhandle with an emergency safe home for adult survivors. The home is slated to open in 2025 and will operate in partnership with SAFE in the Panhandle, a national alliance of businesses, law enforcement, concerned citizens, and organizations who have united to combat commercial sexual exploitation happening in communities throughout the panhandle.

The Freedom Collective has named Shannon Rapier as director of the local program that will serve the Panhandle. Rapier is a dedicated advocate with seven years of anti-trafficking experience. She is a certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) and Peer Support Specialist, combining professional expertise and life experience to her work. Rapier is also an instructor with the Institute for Shelter Care, teaching The Triune Care Model © (TCM) for Stabilization Shelters, which supports those serving trafficking survivors in the critical initial phase of care.

As a survivor leader, Rapier is passionate about creating safe spaces where women can heal, reclaim dignity, and rebuild their lives. Her mission is to help survivors not only find freedom but thrive in a community of care and support. Rapier’s goal is to ensure that every woman entering the safe home feels valued, empowered and able to live with dignity and hope.

SAFE in the Panhandle founder Bruce Bailey said, “Unfortunately, there are those who are not able to enjoy the beauty of Florida’s Panhandle but are instead experiencing trauma and exploitation. With support from area law enforcement, businesses, and community and faith leaders, we work diligently to meet the needs of women who come to us at the absolute worst time in their lives. Emergency response and stabilization are elements that we have long needed and pursued. Thankfully, The Freedom Collective is well equipped to join our efforts in this capacity, and we’re grateful to work shoulder to shoulder with them.”

The Freedom Collective’s Board Chair, Jeff Shaw, helped launch the national program’s first location in Atlanta earlier this year. It began with a unique partnership with City of Refuge/House of Cherith, which provides emergency and stabilization care for victims of sexual exploitation.

Shaw said, “Over the last decade, the leaders of The Freedom Collective were part of providing critical services to over 1,900 women. With the launch of our efforts in Florida’s panhandle, we’re scaling essential services that will help even more survivors begin new lives,” He added, “Our purpose is to glorify God by bringing hope to the sexually exploited, empowering survivors to live free and ultimately abolishing sexual exploitation.”

ABOUT THE FREEDOM COLLECTIVE The Freedom Collective is a national anti-trafficking nonprofit providing supportive services and safe housing to those who’ve made the decision to leave sex trafficking and exploitation. The program provides initial stabilization services, counseling, safety and support that begins the path to self-sufficiency for victims who’ve endured the unthinkable. To learn more about The Freedom Collective, visit Instagram, find them on Facebook or on Linked-In.

Those wishing to learn more about the efforts in the Panhandle or to support the program are encouraged to reach out to: infoflpanhandle@thefreedomco.org.

NATIONAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING NONPROFIT ANNOUNCES FIRST MAJOR EXPANSION IN FLORIDA PANHANDLE