Eden’s Farm and Homeland Security Investigations outline survivor services, urge citywide training ahead of large events

PITTSBURGH — Representatives from Eden’s Farm and Homeland Security Investigations told a Pittsburgh City Council post-agenda on Feb. 25 that the city needs broader training, long-term housing and clearer survivor-centered policies to reduce human trafficking and help people exit exploitation.

Annalisa Gibbs, founder and executive director of Eden’s Farm, described the nonprofit’s four services: online and street outreach; a drop-in center offering immediate needs and case management; a free, structured two-year residential program; and a retail business that provides job training and employment pathways. "Survivors do not belong to us. They lead their own journeys," Gibbs said, urging language that centers agency and strength.

The nonprofit also runs a 16-week survivor apprenticeship stipend program that began its first cohort in 2024 after Eden’s Farm was selected for the Anti-Trafficking Leadership Innovation and Sustainability Atlas project run by the Office for Trafficking in Persons’ National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center. Gibbs said the program trains survivors as trainers and consultants in human trafficking awareness and has already led graduates to provide trainings for local organizations and…