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Across the United States, a growing number of communities are taking proactive steps to fight human trafficking. This plague exists in all 50 states and in every country around the world.

For quite some time, many folks have been led to believe human trafficking is a far-off problem. Though this is not the case.

The more people become aware of the rampant nature of human trafficking, the more work can be done to end human trafficking, rescue survivors, and hold perpetrators responsible.

One community that is taking action to combat human trafficking is none other than Louisiana.

What to know about Louisiana's efforts against human trafficking

In Louisiana, human trafficking survivor Sheri Combs works as the Senior Human Trafficking Program Manager of Covenant House. In a recent interview with Baton Rouge news outlet BP Proud, she goes in-depth about her experience with human traffickers.

According to Combs, sex traffickers used Airline Highway to exploit her during a period when she was a teen runaway. Combs also described being raped multiple times per day, warning all that's changed about human trafficking today is the role the internet plays.

Covenant House exists as a safe haven to help those who are homeless and/or working to escape human trafficking. Homelessness and human trafficking are not as far removed as one might imagine, either.

Many human traffickers use vulnerabilities that one may be experiencing, such as homelessness, in order to lure them in. Then, after the traffickers have their targets right where they want them, abuse and exploitation follow shortly thereafter.

Additional resources on the ground

Similarly to Covenant House, Louisiana's Human Trafficking Prevention Resource Center also exists to fight this iteration of modern-day slavery.

According to executive director Dana Hunter, more reports of human trafficking are expected to materialize in the near future.

However, Hunter also stresses the Human Trafficking Prevention Resource Center's mission to do the following:

• Inform law enforcement, schools, colleges, and universities of how to recognize a perpetrator of human trafficking
• Put up signage that can help survivors who have yet to be rescued find help
• Increase levels of education and awareness about human trafficking, warning signs, and high-risk situations

Anyone who wishes to report what they believe to be human trafficking can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline via phone at 1 (888) 373-7888 or by text at 233733.