Mission
Eden Centers is a movement to eradicate the trafficking and selling of human beings. We create systemic change through: youth prevention; education and legislative advocacy; recovery and reentry services for victims, including emergency, transitional, and long-term shelter; and a lifelong community of care for survivors.
History
Founded in 2011, Eden Centers (formerly Eden House) was the first recovery home for adult victims of human trafficking and commercial exploitation in the Greater New Orleans area. Eden Centers is patterned after Magdalene House/Thistle Farms in Nashville, Tennessee, which has a long history of providing successful recovery services for trafficking survivors.
Our first confidentially located residence was secured in May of 2012 and renovated by volunteers that summer. Eden Centers started with a paid full-time and part-time staff of three, as well as an Executive Director who donated her considerable time and effort. Today, Eden Centers has grown to include eight full-time staff members and five part-time staff members, as well as undergraduate and clinical interns.
In April 2015, we were happy to celebrate the accomplishments of our first graduate as she moved into a brighter future of independence and empowerment. She stays in touch with Eden Centers and has given multiple presentations to the community sharing her life story and the impact of Eden Centers on her life.
In September 2016, Eden Centers launched its prevention education program, R.E.A.L. Choices, using the curriculum developed by My Life My Choice. This curriculum is geared towards at-risk youth, to help them identify and avoid exploitation in their own lives, led by both a survivor leader and clinical staff member.
In October 2017, Eden Centers also launched a social enterprise, Especially Eden, to provide residents with job training and employment. Over 10 residents have been employed by our social enterprise since it opened.
In the Summer of 2021, we acquired a second residence to double our residential capacity.
In January 2023, we opened Eden Emergency Center, a nine-bed facility offering short-term housing, individual care management, trauma therapy, and various therapeutic activities.
