Once arrests are made, local law enforcement often seeks support from organizations and advocates to assist victims of human trafficking.
Nancy Hernandez is one such advocate.
Quietly, she has been helping thousands of women regain their independence and get back on their feet over the years.
“I have the opportunity, and I have to thank God for that,” Hernandez stated. “Because I’m alive. Able to do this.”
Hernandez has spent the last 17 years assisting victims of human trafficking in regaining what has all too frequently been taken from them.
“First, your identity,” she says. “Then, your principles. And your life.”
Hernandez understands and is effective because she has personally survived human trafficking.
“It was very difficult,” she says. “You lose your sense of self. You lose your identity. You lose a lot. And it’s a difficult situation being put in. And being forced to do things that, you know, were not right.”
Over time, Hernandez has helped around 3,000 to 4,000 women. Initially, she connected with local ministries. Currently, she operates her own advocacy center on Tampa’s Nebraska Avenue. The center includes a chapel, a food bank, and a safe space where trafficking victims can get counseling and support.
They are now growing by including a clinic, aiming to provide free basic medical services soon. The Tampa Police Department acknowledged Hernandez’s efforts and granted her $5,000.
“She is a huge asset. She has done so much,” TPD Chief Lee Bercaw stated. “Whether it is giving food, whether It’s helping out, whether it’s meetings, medical, you name it. Miss Nancy is just a blessing to our city.”
Hernandez is sixty-two years old currently. In order to make sure the women under her care have access to the resources they require, she says she is dedicated to working with the community for as long as she can.
“My goal is that the day I am not here that the women that I have helped restore are able to continue what I’ve done here and bring in the new generation of girls that need help,” she stated.
Hernandez intends to use donations this year, including the TPD grant, to increase the size of the food bank. The medical clinic is slated to open on January 19.
