January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month

January is almost to a close, but the month is significant to those who have or are suffering from human trafficking.

Human Trafficking Prevention Month is to educate the community on being vigilant to those suffering from labor and sex trafficking.

Trafficking is the act of using force, fraud, or coercion to exploit a victim to gain monetary value.

Gulf Coast Center of Nonviolence is one of many organizations at the forefront of battling human trafficking on the coast.

Recently Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch allocated $146,446 in funds to assist the center.

The center provides legal advocacy, counseling, and housing to victims.

Rene Davis, communications director of the local non-profit, tells how community funding helps them fight human trafficking.

“Many people are being trafficked and don’t realize what it is or they know someone who’s being trafficked, and they don’t recognize it for what it is. So allowing people to learn about trafficking so that they know it’s not always you know, somebody’s grabbing your kid and the white panel van at the parking lot, it’s somebody being trafficked who lives next door to you,” Davis said. “Having those funds available so that we can continue to do what we do is vital. A lot of times, you know, this is the stand against powerful people who are trafficking them.”

If you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, call the crisis line at 800-800-1396.