What Does Sex Trafficking and Home Staging Have in Common?

By
Home Stager with Rooms With Style

What Does Sex Trafficking and Home Staging Have in Common? 

That isn't a question just to get you wondering what this post is about. This post really is about sex trafficking and Home Staging.

They have a lot in common. Really. 

Even more so, it has to do with using your God given talents to help others. I use mine to help women coming off the streets that have been caught in the horrific sex trafficking trade. 

My latest was to volunteer my time to a Non-profit organization that provides apartments to women that were able to escape this horrible situation. This apartment was to be for a young 18 year old girl who had given birth 3 months prior while she was just 17. 

These are not luxury apartments, they are not in nice apartment buildings and they are not in a great area of town. They are places that most of us wouldn't want to enter.

But to them it is a palace.


This is pretty common what I see when I enter. One room...it is the kitchen, the bedroom, the dining room and the living room. But hey....I am a Home Stager. I see potential! Ha. 

 

One room apartment

Apartment

 

The bathrooms are usually disgusting. 

 

Apartment

 

These women coming off the streets have nothing. And I mean nothing. It takes very little to help.

Let's create a dining room shall we?? A donated table and some cafe chairs from a flea market painted a fun color. 

 

Dining Area

 

Dishes from the dollar store, artwork from ,my warehouse and a Dining Room fit for a Queen. 

 

Dining Room

 

The only thing I make sure of is that the mattress, box spring and bedding is brand spanking new.

 

Bed

 

The bed has not been a safe place for them and now I want it to be a place of total comfort and peace. 

 

 

Bed

 

A little touch of chocolates on the bed and fresh flowers on the dresser to make them smile. 

 

Apartment

 

A donated bedroom set and a chair and that really is all there is room for but it is so much more than she has had. Really....she has nothing. 

 

Living Room

 

Donated kettles in the cabinets, a few groceries to get her started.

 

 

A new shower curtain and towels from Kmart.

 

Bathroom

 

..........and now there is a home for a girl and her baby.

 

Do you agree? Does Sex Trafficking and Home Staging have a lot in common? 

What are your talents that you can share with someone?

 

Good with numbers? Help a new widow reconcile a checkbook for the first time.

Good with organization? Help a single Mom organize her child's toys.

Good with paperwork? Help an elderly person fill out medicare or social security forms.

 

 ***Interested in how and why I started doing this? Check out my original post "Do You Have A Dream? Let Me Tell You a Story"

 

 

 

 

 

Comments (42)

Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Oh my, Shar, I have tears streaming down my face as I type.  Thank God for angels like you who use your God given talents to help others. The comments back and forth are touchy as well.  Now I am motivated to empty a few drawers and closets to make donation to local women's shelter.

SUGGESTED

Mar 21, 2013 12:42 AM
Kathy Streib
Room Service Home Staging - Delray Beach, FL
Home Stager - Palm Beach County,FL -561-914-6224

Shar- what a very generous gift you've given these young women.  I have to agree with Maureen... it makes me think about what I could do here.  It doesn't have to be the Ritz.. as long as it's safe and comfortable. 

Mar 21, 2013 01:02 AM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Shar, I have tears in my eyes reading this and picturing that poor girl as she walked in and saw this! On the side I see your smiling face and yes you have tears as well. What an amazing thing you are doing!! Did you know yesterday was International Day of Happiness? Boy, do you make people happy. I suggested this, to get the word around!

Mar 21, 2013 06:41 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M
So you don't think Sex Trafficking and Home Staging have been used in the same title here on Active Rain Sheila? It was so nice of John to reblog, thank you.
Mar 21, 2013 10:48 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M
That is great to donate to a women's shelter Mary! Sorry I made you cry but all for good I hope.
Mar 21, 2013 10:50 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M
No Ritz to us Kathy but to them it is and that is all that matters. I hope you find something similar in your area that you can use your talents to create a home for women.
Mar 21, 2013 10:55 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M
I did not know it was International Happiness Day! Cool! Thank you so much Peggy and thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Mar 21, 2013 10:59 PM
Kathy Streib
Room Service Home Staging - Delray Beach, FL
Home Stager - Palm Beach County,FL -561-914-6224

Mar 23, 2013 11:47 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Oh cool. Thank you Kathy, much appreciated!

Mar 23, 2013 01:16 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Shar - Wow, good for you.  So glad Kathy featured this as I had missed it the first go round.

Mar 23, 2013 09:16 PM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Fifteen Years Experience in Brevard County

This is a good thing you do, Shar. You are making a great impact on young lives in need.  You will probably never know how much you changed lives.

Mar 23, 2013 10:35 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Shar,

I came over from Kathy's post on her "Ah-ha" moments for the week and she was so right to include your post. For the life of me I can't understand why it is not a feature post and am suggesting. You are an amazing lady and so giving of your talents. This young lady and her baby must feel like they have gone to heaven..truly inspiring!!  

Mar 23, 2013 10:52 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Realty Center - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Interesting Title....I saw this on Kathy's weekly round up/summary...glad she posted it!  Thanks for sharing!

Mar 24, 2013 12:19 AM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

No penalty is harsh enough for perpetrators of this crime Shar.  What a great glimmer of hope you share when donating this piece of your expertise.  Priceless!

Mar 24, 2013 02:13 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
New Hampshire Home Stager

Such an uplifting and inspiring post, Shar!  You have made such a difference in this girl's life.  Something to be very proud of!

Mar 24, 2013 02:26 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Shar, I love that you do this. What a great way to use the gifts you have and share them with someone so in need.

Mar 24, 2013 06:42 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

That was great of Kathy to feature it Debbie. If you ever have flooring you rip upn at a home that isn't bad there are many places like this that would probably take it.

I never meet the girls Gary which is the way I prefer it, I'd rather do it anonymously but I do pray that it changes their lives in any little way possible.

Thank you Dorie and I hope they do feel that their new home is a slice of heaven.

Ha, Kristin. It was tough to come up with a title for this one! :)

Thank you Kevin and I couldn't agree more. There should be very stiff penalties for these perpetrators. 

Sharon, it just makes me happy to do a little for someone who has nothing and to get the word out so people know how they can help as well.

Thank you Tammie, we all have a gift that can be used to help someone else. 

Mar 24, 2013 07:28 AM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

Shar, I remember contacting a couple of battered womens shelters when my youngest daughter was finished with formula, so I could donate it to them to help out. They wouldn't let me know where the place was to drop it off, because I was a man. I totally understand their safety rules, but I couldn't get a few cases of formula to them. You're awesome for helping them out like this!

Mar 24, 2013 08:50 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH Real Estate - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Shar, what a great way to contribute with your special talents!  I'm sure the new tenant will remember this forever.

Mar 25, 2013 06:58 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Wow Eric, that is security but I also understand it for battered women. They truely are fearing their lives.

Thank you Erica, that is very kind of you to say.

We all have talents Patricia and it is best if we use them to help others. 

Mar 25, 2013 10:34 AM

What's the reason you're reporting this blog entry?

Are you sure you want to report this blog entry as spam?