For one Central Alabama woman, January is more than just Human Trafficking Awareness Month. It’s about sharing her story with those who need to hear it most. Shaylene Burlage says people in general have a perception about human trafficking. “When people think about human trafficking, they think about the big organized business of human trafficking,” Burlage explains. “And that men and women are taken to a location and trafficked.”But she says there are actually many levels of human trafficking. For her, she says she was homeless and addicted to drugs. Making her an easy target for those looking to make money. “I was laser-focused on drugs,” Burlage recalls. “I wasn’t focused on what was happening. All I wanted was my next hit.”Therefore, she says she allowed people to setup sexual encounters in exchange for drugs. Those who did the arranging were paid in cash. “I wasn’t paid in cash, so I wasn’t a prostitute,” Burlage adds. “I was just doing what I needed to do to get drugs. I would get paid in drugs.”She says for years, she wasn’t even aware she was a victim of human trafficking. She says she had a realization in more recent years. Burlage says there is one thing everyone can do when it comes to human trafficking. “Whether you’re a family member of someone who is being trafficked,” Burlage says. “Whether you’re a family a member of someone who is out on the streets homeless and is addicted to drugs. Or you yourself are being trafficked, homeless or addicted, I’m going to look at you right into that camera and say, call on Jesus. Pray! Pray first and he will guide you out of it.”Burlage says she’s now focused on outreach. She spends time talking with those who are homeless and addicted to drugs, offering them hope and love.
For one Central Alabama woman, January is more than just Human Trafficking Awareness Month. It’s about sharing her story with those who need to hear it most.
Shaylene Burlage says people in general have a perception about human trafficking.
“When people think about human trafficking, they think about the big organized business of human trafficking,” Burlage explains. “And that men and women are taken to a location and trafficked.”
But she says there are actually many levels of human trafficking. For her, she says she was homeless and addicted to drugs. Making her an easy target for those looking to make money.
“I was laser-focused on drugs,” Burlage recalls. “I wasn’t focused on what was happening. All I wanted was my next hit.”
Therefore, she says she allowed people to setup sexual encounters in exchange for drugs. Those who did the arranging were paid in cash.
“I wasn’t paid in cash, so I wasn’t a prostitute,” Burlage adds. “I was just doing what I needed to do to get drugs. I would get paid in drugs.”
She says for years, she wasn’t even aware she was a victim of human trafficking. She says she had a realization in more recent years. Burlage says there is one thing everyone can do when it comes to human trafficking.
“Whether you’re a family member of someone who is being trafficked,” Burlage says. “Whether you’re a family a member of someone who is out on the streets homeless and is addicted to drugs. Or you yourself are being trafficked, homeless or addicted, I’m going to look at you right into that camera and say, call on Jesus. Pray! Pray first and he will guide you out of it.”
Burlage says she’s now focused on outreach. She spends time talking with those who are homeless and addicted to drugs, offering them hope and love.
