A brave woman is now safe in a long-term aftercare program after being forced into domestic servitude by her partner.
Stacey*, who is in her early 40s, contacted Hope for Justice to ask for a place within an aftercare program.
At the time, she did not have anywhere to call home; she was moving between friends’ houses and hotels. Maris Bey, our Clinical Program Lead in North Carolina, said: “Many survivors we work with will stay with friends or in hotels to avoid street homelessness. These short-term solutions often leave them vulnerable to exploitation.”
Our team referred Stacey to both our RISE Program and to the nonprofit Gate Beautiful, based in North Carolina. One aspect of the organization’s work is to provide crisis response for survivors of human trafficking, including emergency accommodation.
Jeff Bolettieri, our U.S. Senior Investigator, who is based in North Carolina, said: “Survivors of domestic servitude often suffer in silence, hidden in plain sight. When this brave woman reached out, Hope for Justice ensured she wasn’t met with more barriers, but with open doors. By connecting her with RISE and trusted partners like Gate Beautiful, we helped her take the first steps toward safety, stability, and the freedom she deserves.”
Stacey contacted Hope for Justice after finding our website online. She had been exploited by a male perpetrator who she was in a romantic relationship with at the time.
Nationwide in the U.S., 81% of women and 43% of men report experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime, according to a 2018 study by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (nsvrc).
We were able to find Stacey a place within a long-term aftercare program where she is receiving ongoing support in her recovery journey.
Stacey also reported the sexual assault to law enforcement. However, she received threats from her trafficker which left her fearing retaliation, and she dropped the charges. This is very common among survivors of human trafficking and shows the influence that traffickers can maintain over their victims.
Hope for Justice will continue working alongside Stacey to ensure she stays – and feels – safe.
*Name and image changed to protect identity of the survivor
