There was one young mother who came to the house when she was 16, because she was neglected and shunned by her parents. The programme is based primarily upon counselling. New entrants are appointed a big sister for two weeks and given papers . This means that she has passed her settling phase and is assigned duties in the dwelling. But not everyone is willing, says Ms Morson disappointedly.
Some girls come for refuge for three or four days.
Prostitution is illegal in Trinidad and Tobago. Also, anyone aiding and abetting a prostitute can be imprisoned for five years according to section 24 of the Sexual Offences Act. When young girls are caught on the corners of the streets prostituting themselves by the community police they are taken to the police station, processed and taken to Court the next working day. But the process does not end there. On the advice of the probation officer, the young prostitute spends time being counselled at a reformatory centre such as the St Jude s Home.