LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A dark spiral is how Johanna Gober describes her past: working in the sex industry, homeless, and in abusive relationships.
Her transparency about what she survived is an effort to reach others.
“Our hope is to decrease the cycle or revictimization and trafficking, and providing that safe home for them,” she said.
The non-profit she founded, True ID, says Nevada has the third highest rate of human trafficking in the country. Last year, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received almost more than 508 tips, and a third leading to cases were from victims or survivors.
“Every one person matters. One person matters,” says Jessica Whittet, True ID’s executive director.
Getting trafficking victims out of a situation is one part of the story.
“They have often been controlled by others who control their money. They may have a record as a result of the trafficking they’ve been through. They’re recovering from addiction. How do we help them continue on upward and onward trajectory versus going back and cycling?” she says.
For True ID, the answer comes through relationships and reintegration — by providing mentorship, spiritual development, trauma counseling and housing, sometimes for years, for those who need it.
“Where we saw the gap is that they complete the programs and they do so much hard work in these programs, but when you’re finished, where do you go? What happens to the women that have nowhere else to go?” asks Whittet.
“Home is security. It is community of people that love you and support you,” Gober says.
For one survivor, who asked us to protect her identity, her home through True ID has been everything.
“When I first walked through these doors and they showed me my room, I dropped to my knees and lost it- lost it because I’ve never experienced something so overwhelming. I have never lived in something this nice.”
True ID will host a banquet on Friday, Nov. 1. To learn more about their services visit mytrueid.org.
