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 federal offices.

Stephanie Snyder, supervisory special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), described HSI’s victim-centered investigative approach and outreach work, including the iGuardian program aimed at teens, parents and educators to raise awareness about online grooming and exploitation. "HSI has a victim-centered approach, which puts equal weight on the restoration and support of the victim as it does on the prosecution of any trafficker," Snyder said.

Both Eden’s Farm and HSI urged the city to expand trainings for health care workers, law enforcement, educators, youth-serving organizations and the general public; to publicize hotline numbers and red-flag indicators ahead of major events; and to consider policy changes that avoid criminalizing survivors. Gibbs and Snyder recommended better long-term housing and economic pathways as critical to preventing re-exploitation.

Key details shared at the session included:

- Eden’s Farm said its residential program currently houses four individuals at a time in a free two-year program. Gibbs said the organization operated on about $15,000 its first year. The group also opened a Justice Enterprise retail store in Pittsburgh’s West End that offers workplace training and survivor-made products.

- The survivor apprenticeship is a 16-week stipend program that covered professional development, digital literacy, human trafficking law, trauma-informed approaches, business structures and public speaking; cohorts have delivered survivor-led awareness trainings to multiple organizations.

- HSI emphasized that adult trafficking prosecutions require proof of force, fraud or coercion for adult victims, while cases involving minors do not require those elements. Snyder said local contacts and NGO partnerships are essential to identify victims and provide services that make prosecution and recovery possible.

- Both presenters recommended proactive outreach and public awareness for large events; Council members specifically mentioned the upcoming NFL draft as an occasion to publicize resources and training.

Resources and contacts provided during the session: HSI tip line (866) 347-2423; the Polaris Project national hotline (888) 373-7888; Eden’s Farm website www.edensfarm.org and phone (412) 903-7177. Snyder also pointed attendees to HSI’s iGuardian materials and NCMEC resources for parents and educators.

Council members asked about local patterns of exploitation, the overlap between commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking, and how victims are identified during routine police calls. Panelists said much of the exploitation now begins online and emphasized the need for trauma-informed interviews, forensic interview specialists and victim assistance to build trust and enable survivors to participate in investigations.

Council members raised policy options discussed in other states, including laws that criminalize buyers rather than survivors (the so-called "equality" model), citing Maine and recent action in New Hampshire. Panelists did not propose specific local ordinances but recommended that Pittsburgh consider stronger victim protections, record-clearing measures for crimes committed under duress, expanded long-term housing, and economic supports to reduce vulnerability.

The post-agenda closed with council members thanking the presenters and discussing next steps for city-level training for field-permit holders and youth coaches; the formal adjournment motion was moved and seconded and approved without a recorded roll call.

As the council noted, training and easily accessible public information — phone numbers, red-flag indicators and referral pathways — were the most actionable items recommended by Eden’s Farm and HSI at the Feb. 25 session.