"I Feel Like We Are People Who Have Never Known Each Other Before": The Experiences of Survivors of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Transitioning From Shelters to Life in the Community

“All I was Thinking About was Shattered”: Women's Experiences Transitioning Out of Anti-Trafficking Shelters During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Uganda

“…Finally, while relatively few studies focus on the transition out of shelter care, available literature supports our findings, including the likelihood of experiencing community accusations, strained relationships with family members after extended separations, distress over the abrupt loss of direct support provided in the shelter environment, mental health challenges, and difficulty reestablishing a sense of purpose and meaning ( Cordisco Tsai et al, 2020 ; Le, 2016 ; Surtees, 2017 ).…”

“…Participants reflected on the nuanced ways in which the pandemic exacerbated existing difficulties, and—at times—created new challenges, for instance, intensifying physical symptoms given the difficulty in accessing care, contributing to a feeling of unproductivity and “disrupting” personal plans for the future. It is also possible that the strict lockdown policy in Uganda circumscribed the potential for positive shifts highlighted in other research, such as a “heightened sense of freedom and self-determination” described by survivors in the Philippines upon leaving the shelter ( Cordisco Tsai et al, 2020 , p. 12 ) .…”

“…Continuity in positive relationships emerged as a source of resilience in our study—whereas, for some women, the experience of family betrayals and/or outright conflict was re-traumatizing. Other anti-trafficking researchers and activists have argued for the importance of avoiding abrupt social disruptions during community reintegration, particularly in light of the profound breach of trust many survivors experience when trafficked ( Cordisco Tsai et al, 2020 ; Le, 2016 ; Surtees, 2017 ). Address and mitigate challenging social dynamics likely to emerge, including financial expectations (e.g., becoming “rich” since living abroad), accusations, and/or stigma directed at survivors.…”

“…Moreover few studies have examined the necessary conditions for healthy and successful transitions out of shelter care, a critical process that can be challenging for numerous reasons. For example, trafficking-specific shelters are often isolated from the community, meaning that survivors may live for years inside shelters without programs that promote social inclusion, facilitate ongoing connection with their families, or support in preparing for life outside the shelter ( Dutta, 2017 ; Cordisco Tsai et al, 2020 ). Survivors have reported several difficulties when leaving shelter settings—especially when transitions are abrupt—including a sense of abandonment, conflict and disconnection when reconnecting with family, a lack of social support, difficulties completing education or obtaining employment, and experiences of violence and stigmatization in the community ( Cordisco Tsai et al, 2020 ; Dutta, 2017 ).…”

“…Yet designing stronger programs requires learning from those most affected, and few studies have provided space for survivors’ to narrate and draw meaning from their experiences ( Le, 2016 ; Lockyer, 2020 ). In particular, the process of community reintegration after leaving residential shelter care—where many survivors live and receive support for an extended period—has received scant attention in the literature ( Cordisco Tsai et al, 2020 ).…”