Barbara Freeman, a survivor of human trafficking and the first graduate of Franklin County’s CATCH Court, will celebrate the opening of a sober living home for survivors of human trafficking with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Those who were instrumental in making the home a reality joined in the celebration Saturday, March 10, at 4 p.m., 1191 Whittier Street.

The Freeman house is a place where survivors may live a free life: Free from judgement, free to grow, free to thrive. It is the mission of The Freeman House to provide survivors informed care, authentic and lasting relationships and alternatives to prostitution. Programs provide women exiting the life up to two years of transitional housing, food, life skills and career opportunities.

Freeman and about 5 volunteers from the community and the local union of Painters and Allied Trades began renovating the donated home in April 2017.

Freeman will appear in the World Premiere of The Turn Out Film, a fictionalized feature on human trafficking, at the Columbus International Film & Animation Festival in Columbus Friday March 23 at 7pm, the city where the film was born. Freeman and other survivors inspired the film, written and directed by Penn State film Professor Pearl Gluck.