Stories of Survival
Hear from our incredible clients
Ana’s journey from punishment to protection, safety, and hope.
For years, Ana endured domestic violence, trafficking, and exploitation — abuse that left her navigating fear, instability, and the criminal legal system.
When the District Attorney’s Office referred her to Sanctuary’s EMPOWER Center, she was facing a criminal charge. But the DA recognized the truth: Ana was a survivor who needed protection, not punishment. That referral marked the start of her path to safety and hope.
At EMPOWER, Ana was immediately met with trauma-informed care and a team that understood the coercion and exploitation she had survived.
Through our EMPOWER Center — Sanctuary’s multi-service program for people who have had any experience in the commercial sex trade — Ana received:
- Peer navigation from someone with lived experience
- Weekly case management and safety planning
- Referrals to recovery programming and addiction treatment
- Trauma-focused psychoeducational groups
- Legal advocacy at every court appearance
- OB/GYN care, psychiatric evaluation, and therapy referrals
With a Sanctuary EMPOWER attorney advocating alongside her defense counsel, Ana achieved a major victory in 2024: a plea deal that avoided a violent felony charge.
She later secured safe, independent housing through a New York City Rapid Rehousing program, allowing her to escape an abusive relationship and begin planning for her future.
With stable housing, she can now focus on her next goals: saving money, completing her GED, and building a peer-advocacy project that brings together survivors with shared experiences to support one another and advocate for change.
