Obtaining Housing for a Trafficking Victim

“Robin” became a sex-trafficking victim when her father sold her at the age of 8.  Despite a lengthy criminal record of prostitution (over 200 charges), Robin began turning her life around in her mid-thirties. She received services at The Next Door, went through the Magdalene House program, obtained employment, and regained custody of her children. She applied to public housing but was denied admission due to her criminal background.

Robin came to Legal Aid Society to assist with her denial grievance hearing after learning about our re-entry program through a presentation given by Legal Aid Society staff at Magdalene House.  Our Skadden Fellow attorney, Vidhi Joshi, represented Robin and presented both mitigation and rehabilitation evidence which the housing authority is required to consider under federal law.  Robin’s denial was reversed and she secured housing for herself and her 2 teenage children.