Help us Shine a Light into the darkness of human trafficking🦋

Spread awareness and donate to rebuild lives during Human Trafficking Awareness Month

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and Pontiac, Mich.-based nonprofit Hope Against Trafficking needs your help.

Human trafficking isn’t just happening in the shadows; it’s happening next door.

In Michigan alone, women and children are exploited every year. Human trafficking happens in every zip code in Michigan and the United States, not just in foreign countries.

In 2024, 585 new survivors were identified in Michigan, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline and the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission. And not every trafficking victim is reported.

For every 100 survivors, only one safe house bed is currently available across the U.S.

Many are recruited by someone they trusted. Most never escape.

And for the few who do… the battle to rebuild their lives is long, complex, and lonely.

Hope Against Trafficking restores and rebuilds lives – bringing light, healing and hope for a brighter future to its residents and the communities where they live.

Hope needs individuals, organizations, and communities to take action to prevent and respond to this horrific crime of coercion and abuse.

Please join Hope as it launches a $3 million “Shine a Light” fundraising campaign to expand housing. Increase therapeutic care. Shorten waitlists and shine a light into the dark corners where trafficking thrives. This will also help advance community education and fund a documentary from the survivors’ eyes.

Why now? Hope sees the need to increase capacity as more survivors are rescued from the trauma of being trafficked. To shine the light, give today at https://gofund.me/425ddbee0.

“Hope is shining a light into the darkness of human trafficking to help people and organizations realize the vital role they can play in preventing it and rescuing the victims,” said Michele Isbister, executive director, Hope Against Trafficking. “Research shows that strong relationships at home and connections in our communities and workplaces protect against human trafficking and other abuse.”

Human Trafficking, by the numbers in 2024 (Michigan) National Human Trafficking Hotline

• 764 signals received (calls/texts/contacts).

• 340 cases identified.

• 585 victims involved. (most cases include more than one victim)

• Types of trafficking: • Sex trafficking: 216 cases • Labor trafficking: 38 cases • Both sex & labor: 27 cases

Since 2007 when the National Human Trafficking Hotline was established, 10,930 signals have been received across the United States and 6,909 victims were involved.

“Traffickers target individuals who feel alone or unsupported. When people are connected to caring families, neighbors, and professionals, they are more likely to have someone notice when something is wrong and offers help,” said Isbister.

Everyday actions make a difference. Check in on friends; listen; be welcoming; build trust, and offer support. Connections will help create a future free from human trafficking.

Women escape unimaginable trauma with nowhere safe to land. Hope Against Trafficking’s holistic program offers long-term residential care, trauma-informed therapy, medical and legal support, job readiness, and a safe home where healing finally begins – all at no cost to them.

“If you believe every survivor deserves safety, dignity, and the chance to rebuild, this is the moment,” said Isbister. “Please donate, share and shine a light. Your gift gives a future to a woman who suffered unimaginable trauma. She needs your help to rebuild.

“Hope not only restores and rehabilitates survivors; we restore and rehabilitate communities,” said Isbister. “Hope needs industry leaders to help steer Hope’s future growth strategy and education efforts; grants and donor development; and social media ambassadors to spread awareness and educate. Our message needs to be heard far and wide.”

Hope’s four pillars are the foundation of its work with the most vulnerable in society. They lead survivors to safety, stability, and independence – the foundation of real transformation.

1 - Safe Housing; A place where she is believed and protected.

2 - Comprehensive Program; Support for her mind, her heart, and her identity.

3 - Social Enterprise; A space where confidence and skills grow.

4 - Education and Awareness; A commitment to protect the next generation.

Safe Housing and Comprehensive Program: Hope buys and restores homes to provide long-term, safe housing for survivors of human trafficking. Hope’s comprehensive program meets the physical, mental, spiritual, education and financial needs of adult female survivors.

Social Enterprise: Thriving beyond survival requires dedicated coaching in life and job skills to prepare and empower residents for long-term success. Hope’s social enterprise provides survivors with valuable job skills, income-generating opportunities and self-confidence.

Education: Modern day slavery is one of the few issues our society can stop. Hope’s outreach events build awareness and prevention through community education. Hope’s long-term goal is to reach all of Michigan’s 1.7 million K-12 school children and their educators with Hope’s annual Child Safety Matters curriculum so they can learn how to be safe, both on and offline.

The $3 million “Shine a Light” fundraising campaign expands housing, increases therapeutic care, shortens waitlists and shines a light into the dark corners where trafficking thrives. It will advance community education and fund a documentary from the survivors’ eyes.

To shine a light, give today at https://gofund.me/425ddbee0.

About Hope Against Trafficking

Hope Against Trafficking’s mission is to create a safe place with restorative programming for survivors. Hope understands the needs of trafficking survivors struggling with trauma and is passionate about the need for our community to prevent trafficking. If you or someone you know has been trafficked and needs help, please complete the residential intake form available at www.hopeagainsttrafficking.org.

Provide Hope, educate and create awareness

• To raise awareness, schedule Hope to present to your business, church or school.

• Take concrete action: organize colleagues, friends and family to pray, support a local organization that fights human trafficking and advocate and educate the community.

• To volunteer, donate or get updates: please email hello@hopeagainsttrafficking.org.

• Join our board: help drive our growth strategy or the social media ambassador team to spread awareness and educate.

Sponsor and/or participate in fundraisers

• Brainstorm new ways to raise funds – host a fun-raiser to educate friends and family about the dangers that lurk in plain sight and gives them a way to support Hope’s efforts.

• Become a donor to provide financial resources to hire additional staff to help more survivors and fund education programs. Sponsor Hope’s “Shine a Light” campaign.