Since 2011, children and teens in Minnesota who engage in prostitution are categorized as victims and survivors, not criminals. The Safe Harbor law made that change four years ago, but two additional provisions went into effect just under a year ago.
One of those provisions means that sexually exploited youth can no longer be categorized as delinquent, and the other, called No Wrong Door, is a comprehensive effort to make sure communities across the state have the knowledge, skills and resources to effectively identify sexually exploited children and teens, and provide them with victim-centered trauma-informed services and safe housing.
One of these projects just opened in Duluth last month: Sol House, supportive housing for victims of sex trafficking operating under the auspices of Life House.
