Human

Trafficking

Human trafficking can happen to anyone. It doesn’t always involve being kidnapped or moved across borders. It often looks like being tricked, forced, or pressured into work or sex by someone who uses control, threats, or lies to keep you from leaving.

Signs you may be experiencing human trafficking

  • Controls your ID, passport, or money

  • Won’t let you come and go freely or watches your movements

  • Pressures or forces you to perform sex acts for money, housing, or basic needs

  • Makes you work long hours with little or no pay and threatens you if you complain

  • Uses fear, shame, or threats to keep you from leaving—like saying you’ll be arrested or deported

  • Keeps you isolated from friends, family, or support

  • Tells you that you “owe” them for food, shelter, or travel and must work it off

  • Hurts you, threatens your children, or controls your body and choices

Some reasons why a person may be reluctant to report or seek support is because:

  • Do not know or understand that they are being exploited, or “trafficked”

  • Are threatened that if they tell anyone, they or their families will be hurt

  • Have complex relationships with their traffickers that involve deep levels of psychological conditioning based on fear or misplaced feelings of love

  • Are unfamiliar with their surroundings and do not know whom to trust

  • Do not know help exists, how to access it, or where to go for it

  • Are unfamiliar with the laws, cultures, and languages of the destination location or country

  • Fear retribution and forcible removal or deportation

  • Fear law enforcement and other authorities

  • Are addicted to drugs

  • Are in debt to their traffickers

  • Are sending much needed money to their families and worry about not being able to do this.

Our trauma-informed advocates and case managers connect individuals to internal and external resources including food, shelter, clothing, safety planning, and mental health services.

Our program DOES NOT require law enforcement involvement, or confirmed status of trafficking. Individuals may be a risk of, suspected, or confirmed.

If you need help, we are here.  Call our 24 hour confidential and free help line:

919-403-6562