Find Help.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing human trafficking, help is available.
You are not alone.
Support is available whether you need immediate assistance, additional information, or longer-term services.
What is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking occurs when individuals are exploited through force, fraud, or coercion for labor or commercial sex.
It affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, and often happens in ways that are not immediately visible.
Trafficking does not always involve physical restraint or movement. It can include psychological manipulation, economic control, threats, or abuse of power. Many people who experience trafficking know the person harming them and may not initially identify their situation as trafficking.
Myth
Trafficking always involves kidnapping or abduction.
Fact
Most traffickers use psychological means, like manipulation, threats, or fraud.
Myth
Traffickers are strangers to their victims.
Fact
92% of people who are trafficked know their victims.
Myth
Only women and girls are trafficked.
Fact
Studies have shown that up to half of all trafficking victims are male. LGBTQ+ boys and young men are seen as particularly vulnerable to trafficking.
Myth
Human trafficking involves moving, traveling, or transporting a person, and individuals are tied up or chained up to be controlled.
Fact
Human trafficking is often confused with human smuggling, which involves illegal border crossings. Survivors can be recruited and trafficked in their own home towns, even their own homes.
Myth
Human trafficking only happens in illegal or underground industries.
Fact
Human trafficking cases have been reported and prosecuted in industries including restaurants, cleaning services, construction, factories, and more.
Common Forms of Human Trafficking.
Human trafficking can take many forms, including:
Sex Trafficking
Involving commercial sexual exploitation.
Labor Trafficking
Involving forced or coerced work in industries such as construction, hospitality, agriculture, or domestic labor.
Trafficking of Youth
Including situations involving runaway, homeless, or system-involved youth.
Risk Factors and Vulnerability.
Trafficking often intersects with other forms of vulnerability, such as:
- Housing instability or homelessness.
- Economic insecurity or debt.
- Limited access to healthcare or social support.
- Immigration-related vulnerability.
- Prior trauma or involvement in child welfare or juvenile justice systems.
These factors do not cause trafficking, but traffickers may exploit them.
Become a Human Over Human TraffickingYou Are Not Alone.
If a situation feels unsafe, controlling, or exploitative, help is available.
You do not need to be certain that trafficking is occurring to reach out
for support. Trained advocates can help you understand options,
connect to resources, and prioritize safety.
Crisis Hotlines
If you believe someone is in immediate danger or experiencing human trafficking,
contact one of the hotlines below for support and guidance.
Northeast Ohio Human
Trafficking Task Force Hotline.
Available 24/7 to connect callers to immediate response and local support.
216-433-6085
Northeast Human
Trafficking Hotline.
Available 24/7 for calls reporting concerns or seeking guidance. Interpretation services are available in multiple languages.
1-888-373-7888 or
Text 233733 (BEFREE)
Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
You do not need proof to make a report. Trained advocates can help determine next steps and ensure safety remains the priority.
These hotlines can help with safety planning, reporting concerns, and connecting to local resources.
Service Directory.
Collaborative to End Human Trafficking maintains a Service Directory of organizations across Northeast Ohio that provide support to survivors of human trafficking.
Services may include:
- Emergency and transitional housing
- Crisis response and case management
- Medical and behavioral health services
- Legal advocacy and victim compensation assistance
- Workforce and economic support
This directory is designed to help individuals and advocates identify appropriate, survivor-centered services based on need and location.
Number Of Shops:
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Resource Directory.
The Resource Directory offers tools, guides, and informational materials related to human trafficking prevention, response, and survivor support.
Resources include:
- Regional human trafficking resource guides
- Information on victim rights and protections
- Prevention and awareness materials
- Referrals to statewide and national support programs
These resources are intended for survivors, advocates, professionals, and community members seeking reliable information and next steps.
A Note on Safety and Choice.
Seeking help is a personal decision. Services are voluntary, confidential whenever possible, and designed to prioritize safety, dignity, and choice.
If you are unsure where to start, contacting a hotline can help you explore options and connect with support at your own pace.
Jump to Hotlines
A community united to prevent exploitation before it starts.
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