A female sex trafficking survivor had to attend hospital after being left with physical injuries during a sexual assault that was committed by her trafficker.
Victoria* recognized that she was a victim of human trafficking and just a few weeks later, self-referred to Hope for Justice.
At the time of contacting us, the survivor, who is in her mid-30s, was afraid, distraught and in need of emergency housing.
Jeff Bolettieri, our U.S. Senior Investigator, who is based in North Carolina, said: “When survivors reach out, time matters. In this case, Hope for Justice provided swift, compassionate support, extending the survivor’s hotel stay and arranging transport so that she could access long-term aftercare. Every action, no matter how small, sends a powerful message: you are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone.”
Victoria first contacted Hope for Justice via our U.S. mainline. She had been trafficked and exploited for sex work for four to five years.
To meet her immediate needs, we arranged safe travel for her to North Carolina. Team members at our RISE Program then arranged for the survivor to receive residential support, organizing a hotel stay for her.
We then referred Victoria for placement in a long-term aftercare program with one of our partners. During this referral process, the case manager at Hope for Justice assisted Victoria with program applications, interviews, and arranged for her transport to the program.
The process of acceptance into long-term residential programming can be challenging for many survivors, but our case managers work to make this process easier.
Maris Bey, our Clinical Program Lead in North Carolina, said: “With survivors who we work alongside in both the short-term and long-term, we recognize that navigating systems can be challenging for anyone – and even more so for those who have experienced trauma. We do all that we can to help remove barriers and make access to services effective and efficient.”
In the U.S., call 911 if anyone is in immediate danger or there is an emergency. To report a concern of human trafficking, email help@hopeforjustice.org or call (+1) 615-356-0946.
*Name and image changed to protect identity of the survivor
