San Diego is confronting a pressing crisis: child sex trafficking, driven by its numerous hotels, vacation rentals, and ports of entry.
In response to this dire situation, Olive Crest, a West Coast nonprofit dedicated to combating child abuse and supporting families in crisis, is set to open a new drop-in center in downtown San Diego this month.
This center aims to provide immediate safety, food, and mental health care to victims of child sex trafficking, while also helping them access resources and permanent housing.
Donald Verleur, the chief executive officer of Olive Crest, emphasized the importance of creating a welcoming environment for these vulnerable youth, stating, “A drop-in center is designed to be a welcoming place where the kids can come in and feel safe.
These kids have been lied to.
They do not trust adults.
They do not trust institutions.
And so our goal with this drop-in center is to build trust and relationships that, when they feel safe, we could help them find a safe place.”
Lily, a survivor of sex trafficking, spoke at a recent press conference about her harrowing experience and the healing she found through support services, including those provided by Olive Crest after she initially sought help from another drop-in center.
“When I got out of sex trafficking while in foster care, I was exhausted — physically, emotionally and spiritually,” Lily recounted.
“I didn’t know who I was outside of survival, and I didn’t know if there was a future for someone like me.
But Olive Crest showed me something I didn’t have before.
It was hope.
They didn’t just offer resources; they offered belief.
They saw a future for me when I couldn’t see it for myself.”
Since its founding in 1973, Olive Crest has served thousands of children and families, discovering that approximately 20% of those in their care have been involved in human trafficking, while about 50% have been asked.
Verleur noted that 100% of the children they serve are at high risk of exploitation, which underscores the urgency of the situation in San Diego.
Many minors are currently in dire situations, being runaways, in foster care, or homeless.
Exploitation thrives on the desperation of these children, and Olive Crest is stepping in to provide safer alternatives.
The anticipated drop-in center is Olive Crest’s third to be opened in Southern California since January and is part of a broader initiative to create a region-wide network to address human trafficking.
Alfredo Guardado, director of the County’s Department of Child and Family Well-Being, stressed the significance of regional resource deployment as it allows for continuity of care for children who may be moved across county lines.
The center will feature a café, therapy room, nap area, computers, and comfortable spaces to hang out.
For security reasons, the exact location of the drop-in center will remain undisclosed, with outreach occurring through awareness, referrals, and word-of-mouth among the victims.
There have been instances where even pimps have dropped off girls at similar centers, knowing the minors would receive food and medical care.
Tina Chang, Olive Crest’s regional program director, shared a poignant story of a girl who was dropped off by her exploiter monthly before eventually feeling secure enough to ask staff for help.
This slow process of building trust is crucial as it assures children that they are in a judgment-free space where they can have autonomy and be supported.
San Diego County Chief Deputy District Attorney Tracy Prior highlighted the critical role of the drop-in center in protecting child trafficking victims.
“Child trafficking victims cannot get safe if they are unwelcomed, unhoused and unsupported…. This center takes care of all three,” she affirmed.
Olive Crest’s housing resources provide a vital lifeline, particularly as many children caught in exploitation are seeking a place to stay and have been fleeing dire circumstances.
Efforts to assess the current trends in human trafficking in San Diego reveal alarming statistics, with the age of victims decreasing significantly since the pandemic.
Tracy Prior noted that children as young as 13 are reaching her caseload, which is a worrying shift from the previous age range of 16 to 18.
Moreover, sex trafficking is notoriously underreported, particularly among boys, which further complicates the efforts to assist all affected minors.
Despite assumptions that the border contributes to trafficking in San Diego, Special Agent Geanie Franco, who leads the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, reported that most of the minors they recover are local, primarily falling victim to sex trafficking rather than labor trafficking.
Franco expressed concern that cross-border trafficked children may indeed be more elusive, emphasizing the need for greater resources in San Diego to support the minors being rescued.
The task force, coordinated with local, state, and regional law enforcement, partners closely with Olive Crest, and the drop-in center is funded through public and private donations, along with a significant $10 million grant from the state.
Among the private supporters is Padres pitcher Jason Adam, who became involved with Olive Crest after learning about its mission during a church service.
At the press conference, he reflected on the harsh reality of child exploitation in such a picturesque city: “When you hear that in such a beautiful city, where everyone should be really living the dream… that there are tons of kids being exploited sexually at age 13, it can be paralyzing.”
The opening of the drop-in center promises a new and hopeful chapter for the most vulnerable children in San Diego.
With mental health professionals and dedicated staff on site, the center aims to provide a safe haven and supportive environment for children seeking protection, care, and resources.
Ultimately, the hope is to foster a new future for these young survivors, helping them reclaim their lives from the shadows of exploitation.
image source from：https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2025/06/04/drop-in-center-for-sex-trafficked-minors-to-open-downtown/
