Porchlight: 5/18/2022

 Katharine Alfond 


If you all read my blog from May 11th, I briefly talked about the non-profit Porchlight. Porchlight is where I went to the Human trafficking presentation. I also mentioned that it was a family-justice center. In this blog, I will talk more about Porchlight. 


On Wednesday, May 18, I went over for a pretty in-depth tour, and to understand more about this center. The first thing we briefed was their mission statement, "Our mission is to bring together essential services for victims, survivors and their children to create a positive pathway forward, and to foster public safety." Porchlight provides an array of services, including any aid or assistance that a victim may need in the realm of:

- Legal

- Education

- Immediate Response 

- Mental Health

- Law Enforcement 

- Medical 

- Child Care 

- Housing / Shelter 

Not only do they provide all of these services, but they do so in a very calming and sympathetic manner. All of the rooms (especially the ones for children) are not intimidating, and are well thought out. They have a sensory room for children so they can feel relaxed and safe to talk, as well as a daycare, so that parents can discuss their issues and have their children taken care of. They support clients with any assistance they may need, whether its a lawyer, therapist, social worker, animal control, as well as do forensic interviews on-site. This is huge because children will feel less anxious when sitting on a couch, in a room that is happy, than in an interrogation room. It is a homey and safe environment.


Overall, Porchlight is essential for both survivors and victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, etc. It is a great advocating resource, and is vital for human services!

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