Human trafficking.No one wants to think of it happening in their backyard, but it does in Pittsburgh, and even in the North Hills. One Pine woman wants to do something about it. <\/p>\n
Elizabeth Echevarria has founded Living in Liberty, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking. To help fund her efforts, she recently opened Repurposed, a resale shop for clothing and home accessories in the Shoppes at Northway. <\/p>\n
The idea for her organization took root eight years ago when she lived in Northern Virginia. There a visitor to her church opened Mrs. Echevarrias eyes to the problem. <\/p>\n
She talked about her work in rescuing children in India from brothels. I thought, What can I do about this? she said.Along with other members of her church, Mrs. Echevarria was planning on a mission trip to India, when her husband received a job offer in the Pittsburgh area. <\/p>\n
I obviously put it on the back burner, she said. <\/p>\n
Six years ago, the family relocated to Pine and Mrs. Echevarria said the idea was still in the back of her mind, but with the activities in settling her family in a new area, things were put on hold. Then she decided to pursue ministry studies through her church, Allison Park Church in Hampton. <\/p>\n
Mrs. Echevarria finished her studies, but instead of becoming a minister, she looked for a way use her ministry skills. As the mother of six, the thought of young children in slavery and prostitution wouldnt go away. <\/p>\n
Having worked in nonprofits, Mrs. Echevarria thought about starting her own organization to combat human trafficking and in February 2012, she founded Living in Liberty. <\/p>\n
Enlisting friends and fellow church members, Mrs. Echevarria started to raise money to open a safe house where they could help women to escape the way they were living and start a new life. In August, they opened a safe house that can shelter four women. It was the first of its kind in the Greater Pittsburgh area. <\/p>\n
They can live there for a year and have access to all sorts of services. We really hope to help them change their lives, she said. <\/p>\n
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