Salvation Army program fights human trafficking across western PA

Human trafficking can come in many forms, and many people do not realize their situation until it is too late, but the Salvation Army’s Light Project in western Pennsylvania has worked tirelessly to help hundreds of survivors, with officials committed to bringing this crisis to light.For Erika, it began as an exciting new chapter.”He promised me the world,” she said.However, this new chapter quickly turned into a nightmare.”Come to find out, he wanted me to sell myself and my daughter, to make him money,” she said.She said the situation even turned violent.”A couple of times, he threatened me with a gun, you know, because I wasn’t doing what he wanted me to do. You know, I wouldn’t put my pictures on the website. I wouldn’t go and have sex with other people for him or women. You know, he was just a monster,” she said.A medical emergency eventually led Erika to discover the Salvation Army’s Light Project, which stands for Leading Individuals Gracefully Out of Human Trafficking. The project provides survivors with resources to take the first step toward a better situation.”On a day-to-day level, the food, clothing, transportation, emergency assistance, sometimes, housing assistance, trauma-based guidance that we call it,” said David Payton, a major at the Salvation Army.As of Thursday, the project has served more than 300 survivors across western Pennsylvania. However, human trafficking remains a crisis that continues to occur across the country and in plain sight.”It’s happening at restaurants. It’s happening at massage parlors. It’s happening at nail salons. But those are the more obvious locations,” said Lauren Fair, division social services director for the Salvation Army.Fair explained that signs to watch for include whether a person has control of their finances, living situation, and where they go.”There’s a lot of overlap with intimate partner violence in some ways, because a lot of times these are intimate relationships. But the power and control is the really key point,” she said.Erika shared that the Light Project provided her with something she never had before: someone in her corner.”For somebody who always fight alone. To actually have people who cares about your health, even your mental health, and don’t want nothing in return is. It was weird at first because I never had that type of support, but now I’m happy,” she said.Now, she hopes her story will inspire others to speak out and take that first step.”If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have a roof over my head. I wouldn’t be strong enough to stand on my two feet. I probably would even went back to him if it wasn’t for the support in the, the stand in the Salvation Army gave me,” she said.If you feel you are a victim of human trafficking or know someone who may be a victim, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text BEFREE at 233733. You can also contact the Salvation Army to learn more about the Light Project.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. —

Human trafficking can come in many forms, and many people do not realize their situation until it is too late, but the Salvation Army’s Light Project in western Pennsylvania has worked tirelessly to help hundreds of survivors, with officials committed to bringing this crisis to light.

For Erika, it began as an exciting new chapter.

“He promised me the world,” she said.

However, this new chapter quickly turned into a nightmare.

“Come to find out, he wanted me to sell myself and my daughter, to make him money,” she said.

She said the situation even turned violent.

“A couple of times, he threatened me with a gun, you know, because I wasn’t doing what he wanted me to do. You know, I wouldn’t put my pictures on the website. I wouldn’t go and have sex with other people for him or women. You know, he was just a monster,” she said.

A medical emergency eventually led Erika to discover the Salvation Army’s Light Project, which stands for Leading Individuals Gracefully Out of Human Trafficking. The project provides survivors with resources to take the first step toward a better situation.

“On a day-to-day level, the food, clothing, transportation, emergency assistance, sometimes, housing assistance, trauma-based guidance that we call it,” said David Payton, a major at the Salvation Army.

As of Thursday, the project has served more than 300 survivors across western Pennsylvania. However, human trafficking remains a crisis that continues to occur across the country and in plain sight.

“It’s happening at restaurants. It’s happening at massage parlors. It’s happening at nail salons. But those are the more obvious locations,” said Lauren Fair, division social services director for the Salvation Army.

Fair explained that signs to watch for include whether a person has control of their finances, living situation, and where they go.

“There’s a lot of overlap with intimate partner violence in some ways, because a lot of times these are intimate relationships. But the power and control is the really key point,” she said.

Erika shared that the Light Project provided her with something she never had before: someone in her corner.

“For somebody who always fight alone. To actually have people who cares about your health, even your mental health, and don’t want nothing in return is. It was weird at first because I never had that type of support, but now I’m happy,” she said.

Now, she hopes her story will inspire others to speak out and take that first step.

“If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have a roof over my head. I wouldn’t be strong enough to stand on my two feet. I probably would even went back to him if it wasn’t for the support in the, the stand in the Salvation Army gave me,” she said.

If you feel you are a victim of human trafficking or know someone who may be a victim, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text BEFREE at 233733. You can also contact the Salvation Army to learn more about the Light Project.