sarahBy Anne Ward, M.Ed.
In Vermont, you may believe that sex trafficking is something that happens far from our small towns and back roads. The reality is closer to home. People experiencing trafficking in Vermont are our neighbors and members of our community.
Under both federal and Vermont law, sex trafficking is defined as using force, fraud, or coercion to obtain a sex act. A person is being trafficked for sex when they are compelled to engage in acts in exchange for money, housing, food, drugs, or other things of value, through pressure, manipulation, or threats. Coercion often includes creating and exploiting addiction and exploiting immigration status.
Trafficking does not require physical restraint or movement over borders. Many trafficked adults continue to make their own decisions and live their own lives within limited circumstances. This distinction matters. Believing that you know who is being trafficked, or that people who are being trafficked are not an active part of our community and have no choices or freedom, can make it harder for people experiencing coercion to be seen and supported on their own terms.
Trafficking in rural communities often looks different from the stereotypes we view on our screens. It may involve:
- A partner, acquaintance, or employer controlling, restricting, or withholding someone’s income, housing, or survival resources.
- Online advertising combined with local, in-person arrangements.
- Our neighbors, participating in regular life, in full view, experiencing harm behind closed doors.
These same dynamics can make people hesitant to seek help, especially if the person causing harm is someone they know.
Public conversations about trafficking often focus on rescue, including dramatic interventions, law enforcement stings, media attention, and the idea of saving victims. Unfortunately, many adults experience harm and additional loss of control as a result of this approach. They may:
- Care about or depend on the person harming them.
- Be managing complex needs such as housing, substance use, or childcare.
- Need support without police or immigration enforcement involvement.
- Prioritize stability, available resources, and autonomy over leaving immediately.
- Already be seeking safety and support from trusted resources and have a plan that’s safe for them.
A trauma-informed, community-based approach recognizes that people are experts in their own lives. Support is most effective when it respects individual choices and timelines, offers options, and provides the resources necessary for someone to have an alternative.
For adults in Vermont experiencing trafficking or exploitation, safety often depends on practical, accessible resources, such as:
- Confidential, nonjudgmental advocacy.
- Safe and stable housing options.
- Access to healthcare and harm-reduction services.
- Legal support, including help addressing criminal records.
- Transportation in rural areas.
- Economic alternatives, including job training and income support.
Equally important is how these services are offered. Fear of stigma, criminalization, or losing custody of children can prevent people from reaching out. Creating real access means reducing those risks.
Addressing trafficking in rural Vermont is not about identifying victims or intervening in high profile ways. It is about building a community where people have options. That includes challenging assumptions about who is affected, supporting policies that expand housing, healthcare, and economic stability, listening without judgment to those most impacted, and not causing additional harm.
Most importantly, it means recognizing that people experiencing trafficking are not “others.” They are Vermonters navigating complex realities, making decisions within constraints, and deserving of dignity, autonomy, and support.
Mosaic Vermont is a confidential, local resource that provides individualized support for people experiencing sex trafficking, exploitation, and related harms. Call our 24-hour helpline at 802-479-5577, or reach out to info@mosaic-vt.org; mosaic-vt.org. You can also donate to help your neighbors access the resources they need.
Anne Ward, M.Ed., is the executive director of Mosaic Vermont, Inc.
The material presented here represents the opinion of the author and does not reflect the opinions of The Bridge. Commentaries may be submitted to editor@montpelierbridge.com. Preference is given to submissions by those who live in central Vermont. Submissions are encouraged to be 500 to 750 words in length.
