Survivors of human trafficking are relaying a message of hope and are urging others to get help on the 2nd annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Ontario
Legal Assistance of Windsor and WEFIGHT held a panel discussion Friday morning to hear from victims who became survivors.
Survivors said they were surprised by all the organizations in Windsor, from Windsor Police, Legal Assistance of Windsor, Hiatus House and House of Sophrosyne, who are ready to help, but admits seeking the help is difficult because the abuser is always around.
They pointed out that in addition to get the physical necessities of life, the mental support is just as important.
Tamas Miko came to Canada from Hungary over a decade ago on a promise of a good job, housing and car but none of it happened.
"They kept me in a basement for a long time and then they never gave me food. We had to work from 6am, sometimes until midnight or later and we never get paid," he says.
Local survivor Victoria Morrison was raised in a middle class family, was a regular teenager and was accepted to university but then dropped out to be a dancer and became addicted to drugs.
She admits there aren't a lot of gaps in service in Windsor when it comes to getting help, but a support group would help.
"A lot of survivors, like I said, they feel isolated and sometimes they don't want to talk to counsellors or social workers and I think it would be awesome to have a support group so we can share our experiences."
Morrison says it is tough to get out.
"While it was happening, my abuser was always present so this one time, I got to be away from my abuser, " she says. "I honestly thought I was going to die if I didn't get out."
They say that trust becomes a big issue as well because you lose trust in people while you are being victimized.
Since 2002, Legal Assistance of Windsor and WEFIGHT, have provided help to victims who got away from the abuse with housing and financial assistance.