COLUMBUS, Ohio — It can happen to anyone, anywhere. 

Recent statistics show Ohio ranks fifth for human trafficking incidents. 

What You Need To Know

  • Sanctuary Night is a drop-in center in Columbus, Ohio to help women who are at risk of sexual exploitation

  • The space provides resources and a chance to hear from those fighting against trafficking

  • Sanctuary Night is open throughout the week

Meanwhile, one drop-in center in Ohio is continuing to fight against human trafficking.

Sanctuary Night is a safe space for women who are at risk of sexual exploitation.

Nancy Hashman is Sanctuary Night’s building manager and clinical case manager. Before started helping there, Hashman faced adversity after adversity.

“I spent 26 years in addiction, homelessness, human trafficking. I’m 52 years old, so that’s over half my life,” she said.

Hashman was 17 years old when it all started.

“My husband would not work,” she said. “My son got sick. He was a baby. My mother-in-law said, ‘Hey I need temporary guardianship of your son, so I can take him to the doctor. She basically tricked me into signing away my rights to my son.’”

After losing her son and dealing with a divorce, she turned to a life she is not proud of.

“I started nude dancing,” she said. “Within six months, I met the man who would be my first trafficker... coming to me afterwards like, ‘You can get $1,500 from this guy if you go home with him,’ you know, feeling being very vulnerable, I said, ‘Yes.’”

And the exploitation got worse.

“I was living with him,” she said.

Breaking free came at a cost.

“He went to prison,” she said. “And so, then I was left homeless and trying to find my way and heavily addicted at this time.”

Hashman struggled for years, but she says what saved her was Sanctuary Night. It’s where she now helps other survivors. 

Sanctuary Night provides resources and a chance to hear from those fighting against trafficking, like Nancy Hashman—who is a survivor.

And while she can’t take back her past, her heart goes out to those still struggling: “No matter where you’re at, what you’ve done or what any person or society tells you, you are worthy. You are more than what you have done or what you have been through. And you can get to the other side.”

The drop-in center is open throughout the week.

For more information on this organization, click here.