‘Nowhere else to go’: SC trafficking Survivors Lack Long-Term Recovery Housing

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — For the number of human trafficking survivors identified annually in South Carolina, the state has less than half of the number of beds available to house them for long-term recovery.

And the state is in need of buildings, so fewer people can be put at risk again.

Nonprofit “I AM VOICES” development coordinator Allie Rivers says when a human trafficking survivor gets connected to emergency services, it doesn’t always mean they’re placed somewhere for long-term recovery after that.

“Most likely they go back to their abuser, and they go back to these abusive situations because they have nowhere else to go,” Rivers said.

Rivers says this is because of the lack of long-term housing across the state.

The 2025 South Carolina Human Trafficking report says 323 people were identified as human trafficking victims last year. And right now, there are fewer than half the beds in total that can help these survivors seek long-term recovery.

Currently, there is no housing for male trafficking survivors and only one nonprofit houses children. “I Am Voices” is one of the few nonprofits that houses only women and they have fewer than 20 beds across two homes.

“To be able to continue to help people, we’re going to have to have funding,” Rivers said. “We’re going to have to have housing.”

Source: ‘Nowhere else to go’: SC trafficking survivors lack long-term recovery housing