Latest news with #SafeHavenMinistries
The Hill
23-07-2025
- The Hill
How human trafficking survivors can repair their credit
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A nonprofit in Grand Rapids, Mich., is working to help human trafficking victims fix their credit as they try to take back their lives. Safe Haven Ministries, which works with domestic abuse and human trafficking survivors, was recently authorized to certify victim status under the Debt Bondage Repair Act, an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act that helps survivors fix their credit after being trafficked. A trafficker's common method of control is to take out credit cards or loans in their victim's name and then not pay them back, Safe Haven Ministries Human Trafficking Task Force Coordinator Amanda Colegrove explained. That can make it difficult for the victim to rebuild. 2024 report: Kent County finding more human trafficking victims than last year 'Once they exit their situation, that shows up as something that they have done, when in fact it was a method of control for the trafficker,' Colegrove explained. 'That can make it very difficult for someone trying to take back their life and move on to be able to find housing or get a loan for other things that they might need like a car.' She added, 'What (the Debt Bondage Repair Act) allows us is to just provide another path for our clients to rebuild their lives, take back what was taken from them and find a way to be self-supporting once again.' Certifying a client's victim status is just the first step. From there, they will have to work through the process of each credit reporting company, which will determine if they will remove the traffickers' actions from their credit report. Because it's a new process, Colegrove said, it's still unclear how long that will take. 'Individuals who may have experienced trafficking and want to have help with this need to understand that it's going to take time and it's not going to happen right away,' she said. 'Ultimately, it rests with the credit reporting company and what they decide.' She also noted that it doesn't remove the debt, though other tools, such as using stolen identity resources, could help bring debt relief. 'The crux of the matter is that they have an opportunity to improve their credit score and this allows them to rebuild their lives after trafficking,' she said.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Advocates: More state funding needed for victims of domestic violence
LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) — Agencies that support victims of domestic violence were outside the Michigan capitol building Tuesday to urge more funding for domestic violence services. The efforts are a part of legislative advocacy day for the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, according to Rachel VerWys of Safe Haven Ministries. 'Critical resources are needed to create safety planning to offer those experiencing abuse and violence a way to healing. We are facing funding shortages through our grant funding and we need the state of Michigan to commit budget resources to make up that gap in funding,' explained VerWys. Advocates say woman's death shows 'stark reality' of domestic abuse Currently, funding for domestic violence support programs comes partially from a federal fund called the Victim of Crime Act Money, VerWys said. 'Over a number of years, that funding bucket has dropped to such a critical level that unless the state of Michigan committed to offset that gap, we would have already experienced shortfalls. Thankfully, our state has started to commit to add our own state budgetary resources to this pool of funding to support survivors,' VerWys explained. But she says it's not enough. So far, $50 million of the upcoming state budget has been allocated for victims of domestic violence but the coalition is calling for $75 million, saying more money is needed to meet increased demand. New Kent County court aims to 'treat the root' of domestic violence 'If agencies do not get this funding, that will create such a shortfall that services will shut down in different parts of our communities across the state of Michigan and survivors will suffer. They will lose access to safety planning, to safe shelter, to crisis support, to legal advocacy, to really the essentials that we need to keep our communities safe from those who do harm,' VerWys said. The risk of domestic violence has increased in recent years because of housing crises and rising cost of living, and is expected to keep growing, according to MCEDSV. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Yahoo
Source: Grand Rapids woman found dead feared boyfriend would kill her
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Grand Rapids woman who police say was beaten to death by a man she had dated predicted last summer that he would kill her, sources said. Aleta Lung, 61, was found dead Wednesday in her apartment off the East Beltline. She was believed to have been dead for two or three days by then. Her one-time boyfriend, 47-year-old Randy Buckner, was arrested hours later driving her vehicle in New Mexico. Man arrested in New Mexico for murder in Grand Rapids, police say Grand Rapids police said Sunday evening was the last time anyone hard from Lung. A neighbor said she heard banging and yelling in Lung's apartment on Sunday before the Super Bowl. The neighbor said it sounded like Lung and Buckner were fighting, but the neighbor did not call police because she was worried any resulting charges would be dropped and she feared retaliation. She said she now wishes she had called police and hopes others can learn from her mistake. Law enforcement sources confirm that when police responded to Lung's home in June 2024 on domestic call, she told them Buckner was going to kill her. That incident did not result in charges. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said Lung reported Buckner balled up a fist and said he was going to hit her. Buckner denied that. There was no evidence of physical contact, Becker said. Police said Buckner has a long history of domestic violence arrests. Victim advocates say domestic violence is an epidemic. 'The story happens over and over again,' Rachel VerWys, CEO of Safe Haven Ministries in Grand Rapids, said. 'And not in any isolated space. This is happening all over the country. It's happening all over our community.' New Kent County court aims to 'treat the root' of domestic violence Sources told News 8 Lung had been trying to break it off with Buckner. Victim advocates say that is the among the most dangerous times in an abusive relationship. 'Knowing that abuse can escalate particularly when someone is trying to leave helps us understand the very, very difficult dynamics of victims and what they're facing,' VerWys said. Buckner appeared Friday at a court hearing from the Bernalillo County, New Mexico, detention center. A judge ordered him held without bond for 25 days while extradition proceedings are underway. A defense attorney said Buckner would challenge extradition. Anyone who needs help can connect with Safe Haven Ministries through its 24/7 crisis phone line by calling or texting 616.452.6664 or online at . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
