BALTIMORE — The month of January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
In Baltimore, there are several organizations working to combat the problem, including the Human Trafficking Collaborative.
Its mission is to detect human trafficking, but also give victims help.
Thomas Stack is the Anti Human Trafficking and Sexual Response Manager for MONSE and says there are several signs to look for when detecting human trafficking.
He adds that if a person isn't able to speak for themselves and is not in control of their money, it could mean they are a victim.
The issue of human trafficking is particularly personal for Marcia Spencer.
She used to be a sex worker and suffered from drug addiction.
She recalled the day she almost fell victim to human trafficking, when a man trapped her, naked, in a room in his basement.
Thankfully, she managed to escape through a window.
Spencer has now been sober for three years and works to help women in vulnerable situations, as an Outreach Coordinator for the HER Resiliency Center.
The organization helps women who are victims of human trafficking and to raise awareness of the issue.
That includes increasing awareness of law enforcement agencies.
Natasa Guynes, the founder of HER Resiliency Center, told WMAR-2 News, "We have been invited by the Sheriff's Office to train their deputy sheriffs on the differences between sex work and sex trafficking."
Leaders with the group tell us they are seeing a rise in gang-related human trafficking cases.
If you are a victim, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
