Hannah's Story
Name has been changed to protect the survivor
Hannah came from a seemingly "normal" family. Her grandfather was a preacher, and her name was inspired by a Biblical figure, but things were not what they seemed. Growing up, she dealt with ongoing sexual harassment and "culture grooming." Hannah became a mom at age 16. After high school, she had little options to support herself and turned to night club dancing. This is where her trafficking story begins.
Working at the night club, Hannah began hanging out with an unsafe, rebellious crowd. Around this time, Hannah lost custody of her son and consequently started using recreational drugs to cope with that loss.
Hannah was invited to go to Texas and work at a different club by a man in this group. Hannah accepted the offer. In Texas, the man took Hannah to a bondsman’s office and tried to sell her off to pay off his bond. His offer was rejected, and the man left Hannah stranded at a nearby motel.
Alone and crying, a woman tried to comfort Hannah. The woman herself was in an unsafe situation. Her partner later showed up—enraged by her act of kindness—and beat the woman in front of Hannah. Hannah tried to scream for help and was able to escape, when two teenage girls at the motel ushered her into their room. They offered to let her spend the night in their room for safety, and she did.
When she woke up the next morning, Hannah had over 300 text messages on her phone. The two girls, who were living in the motel with their mother and a sex trafficker, took compromising photos of Hannah and posted a sex ad online. The texts were from potential buyers.
The girls told Hannah that she would work to pay them back for the overnight stay, which she did. When they were through with her, they sold Hannah to another trafficker. From there, Hannah found herself trapped in a life of sexual exploitation.
In "the life," Hannah worked every day from 7 a.m. to midnight—or longer—in order to meet a demanding quota. She was forced by her trafficker to wear a choker as a sign of ownership. She walked the streets and responded to online ads, to be sold for sex, never keeping the money she made. Hannah remembered a major thoroughfare in Houston, Texas, known for trafficking, where she was often sold: Bissonnet Street.
"Cars would come down this street, like a drive-through, and pick up girls for sex," said Hannah. The road is known locally as the "Bissonnet Track." The Houston Chronicle reports that tenants a few blocks away have reported to building managers they've seen strangers having sex outside their doorways, in their complex's laundry room and inside Range Rovers in the gated parking lot.
After months of slavery, and sexual trauma, Hannah was rescued. Her mother found her, and got her to a safe place. Hannah connected with a mentor who introduced her to The WellHouse. It was here, where Hannah found healing, love, and a new way of life.
“The WellHouse has helped me understand how to be stable and have a stable mentality. It has taught me about responsibility, through having a job and owning a car and apartment. It has shown me God's intentions for my life. During my time at The WellHouse, I made the decision to know God, and know Him intimately," Hannah said.
“The WellHouse has helped me understand how to be stable and have a stable mentality," Hannah said.
"My goal is to finish college, and then speak publicly at schools, churches, and other places to spread awareness [about trafficking]. I want to be the person that helps other young girls out of the situation I was in. One day, I would love to start my own WellHouse-like program in another part of the county," said Hannah.
It was at The WellHouse where Hannah came to know Jesus fully for the first time. She now knows He accepts her, and calls her "my daughter, my beloved." Hannah is now a graduate of The WellHouse program and working a steady job. She has regained joint-custody of her son, and she's working toward her bright future ahead.