Human trafficking was a complicated, multifaceted epidemic affecting millions of people around the world. However, every survivor’s experience included a struggle for healing, rebuilding, and reestablishing their place in society. In a recent episode of DevelopmentAid Dialogues, podcast host Hisham Allam engaged with Angie Staley, a seasoned campaigner and expert in anti-human trafficking and transitional housing, about the crucial work being done to assist survivors of trafficking. Angie’s observations shed light on the challenges of caring for those who have been through terrible pain, as well as the multidimensional approach required to help them rebuild their lives.
Angie, with over 12 years of experience working in residential coordination and providing support to trafficking survivors, dedicated her career to offering a lifeline to individuals who experienced profound suffering. Her work emphasized that recovery was not defined by traditional milestones but by the small, consistent steps that survivors took toward healing.
Download the transcript of this episode.
Trafficking survivors faced numerous challenges on their path to recovery. While many people expected someone to recuperate quickly, Angie highlighted the value of patience.
“Success could have meant having food in their cabinets and a bed to sleep on. It could have been as simple as making another call to look for work.”
Angie’s approach to success was refreshingly human-centered. Survivors focused on moving forward, even in little steps, while overcoming the psychological and emotional consequences of prior trauma.
“Success came from being able to move forward with tenacity and strength that they got from surviving their situations,” she talked about.
One of the defining aspects of Angie’s work was the deep emphasis on trust-building.
“You had to rebuild their life with them, not for them,” Angie noted.
This process, which she described as a continual assessment of what each individual needed, was more than a one-time intervention. It was about being present, showing up, and working together for sustainable change.
Building trust meant more than just providing emotional assistance; it meant creating an environment in which survivors felt heard and understood.
“Sometimes, it was just listening to their story,” she recalled. “It was frequently an emotional barrier, such as suffering, trauma, or fear. Sometimes they just wanted someone to be there and assist them move ahead in those instances.”
Angie’s experience also taught her that something as easy as making the appropriate phone call can be the key to a survivor’s next move.
“We worked through complex trauma, but we also made sure to address practical aspects like getting medical appointments, finding jobs, and even securing transportation,” she told me.
Working in such a complex field often brought up ethical dilemmas. Angie described facing moments when it wasn’t immediately clear how to best support a survivor or when resources were stretched too thin. Yet, she firmly believed in the power of persistence, even when faced with these moral crossroads.
“There was always a solution, even if it took time. You had to keep digging for that next step,” she said. “It wasn’t about giving up, it was about finding creative solutions, whether that was working with other agencies or helping someone move to a different state if that’s where they could get the help they needed.”
For listeners interested in understanding the challenges of supporting human trafficking survivors and the innovative approaches to transitional housing, Angie Staley’s insights provided a powerful perspective on the complexities of recovery and the resources needed to make lasting change.
Listen to our latest podcast for more on Angie Staley’s extensive experience in anti-human trafficking work and how advocates and organizations can better support survivors as they rebuild their lives.
