The following story is shared with permission. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.
A Story of Survival, Recovery, and Hope
Maria was 17 when she first met the man who would change her life in the worst possible way. He was charming, attentive, and seemed to genuinely care. Within months, she was isolated from her family, controlled, and trafficked in the streets of a Texas city she didn’t know.
“I didn’t know it had a name,” Maria says now, three years into her recovery. “I just knew I was trapped and I didn’t know how to get out.”
Finding Stop Now Foundation
It was a social worker at a local clinic who first connected Maria with Stop Now Foundation. What she found wasn’t judgment — it was a team of people who understood, many of whom had walked a similar road.
“The first time I walked in, someone gave me a cup of tea and just asked what I needed. Not what happened to me — what I needed, right now. That was everything.”
The Road to Recovery
Maria’s recovery journey included trauma-informed counseling, help navigating the legal system, job skills training, and safe housing assistance. Today, she works as a peer advocate at Stop Now Foundation, helping others who are where she once was.
“I tell the women I work with: what happened to you doesn’t define you. You survived something that was designed to break you. That makes you one of the strongest people in the room.”
Our Commitment to Survivors
Stories like Maria’s are why Stop Now Foundation exists. We believe survivors deserve dignity, comprehensive support, and the opportunity to lead. Our survivor-centered programs include:
- Trauma-informed case management and counseling
- Emergency and transitional housing navigation
- Legal advocacy and court accompaniment
- Job skills training and employment partnerships
- Survivor leadership and advocacy training
If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out confidentially through our contact page or call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
