The Organization for Prostitution Survivors is relocating their offices and drop-in services to Burien, WA opening March 3rd.
The Organization for Prostitution Survivors (OPS) has found a new home at 112 SW 157th St in Burien, Washington! We welcome survivors of the sex trade from all over the region to our new space, where services will resume on March 3rd, 2020.
OPS is a social service agency and agent of social change. OPS has been providing survivor-led services since 2013, with the goal of filling a gap in services available for adult survivors. Since its origin, OPS has expanded its services to include serving both adults and youth and has served, on average, 100 survivors each year since. Our core services include individual and group counseling, one-on-one case management and advocacy, chemical dependency counseling, yoga therapy, art workshops, weekly meals and drop-in hours, trainings for professionals, policy advocacy, and mentoring.
In addition, our space houses staff offices and direct services (including large group and activity rooms, convening and training spaces, and areas) so that survivors may come together to take respite from the world. We are excited to bring our survivor-centered model of services to this space and are eager to get to know our neighbors and community.
OPS will be open on Tuesdays through Thursdays from 1 PM to 6 PM for walk-in/drop-in services. These services include yoga therapy on Tuesdays and dinner on Thursdays, while counseling, groups, and case management are available throughout the week. On Saturdays from 2 PM to 5 PM, we will host a drop-in event for our ever-popular art workshop (with lunch starting at 2 PM). Our advocates are mobile and able to travel throughout King County to meet with participants in places that are convenient for them throughout the week.
“I waited too long to have a place like this to let a little snow stop me!” touted an OPS participant during last year’s snowy season.
“OPS truly is that kind of special place you’d brave a snow storm to get to,” agrees Alisa Bernard, OPS former participant and OPS current Director of Education and Partnerships. “I started coming to OPS as a participant 7 years ago, going to support groups and art workshops. This organization has given me so much: Community, family, support, love, acceptance. OPS gave me space to learn who I am and find out who I could become. Survivors come to OPS for many reasons, but the one I hear most is that OPS gives participants a safe place to form community and connections that last lifetimes.”
OPS is always looking for new volunteers and partners to collaborate with! If you are interested in joining our efforts, you can follow us on social media, or be on the lookout for our newsletters. Our team provides trainings, open houses and volunteer drop-ins. To learn more about OPS and what we do check us out online at www.seattleops.org. If you have any questions, please reach out to Nykki at nykkic@seattleops.org. We are thrilled to be joining the vibrant Burien community and will be hosting an Open House on Friday May 1st at our new space!
Wonderful write up. Looking forward to visiting your open house.