Company Profile
The Underground NE
Company Overview
The Underground New England exists to eradicate human trafficking in Connecticut and New England through awareness, prevention, and intentional survivor support.
The Underground NE is a faith-based organization dedicated to
: transforming a culture of human trafficking and exploitation through the healing love of Christ Jesus
: providing intentional survivor support that will pave a pathway to freedom and wholeness for survivors
: educating and sensitizing our communities through awareness events and prevention strategies
: engaging community partners for a unified approach to the eradication of human trafficking in the Connecticut.
Company History
Our work as an organization began in 2012 with prayer in the parking lots of motels and hotels on the Berlin Turnpike in the Meriden-Berlin CT area and observing signs of human trafficking. As we learned about and witnessed trafficking, we shared information with a coalition of CT Churches to prayerfully consider how we could assist the frontline workers and the anti-trafficking movement. We attended CT Coalition Against Trafficking meetings (CTCAT), trained with Love 146 (a prominent anti-trafficking organization), and began relationships with the CT Department of Children and Families (DCF), with the sole intent to learn and understand more about human trafficking in Connecticut.
Since 2012 The Underground NE (UGNE) worked closely with DCF, the Human Anti-trafficking Response Team (HART), and other stakeholders in Connecticut to identify gaps in state resources and to bridge churches and communities to the anti-trafficking movement as volunteers and funders for resources. In 2017, after receiving referrals to assist victims in crisis who desired to exit exploitation, UGNE saw the great lack of holistic services and safe housing for adult survivors. In response to this gap, UGNE researched best practices for serving adults and developed the Adult Mentor Program (AMP). UGNE became a formal 501c3 nonprofit organization in November 2021, and AMP was formalized in April 2022, providing emergency assistance and a Peer/Ally Mentor Program for adult survivors.
UGNE reaches over 2000 a year with our awareness events. On average 200 volunteers serve with UGNE each year. Nearly 60 survivors have received emergency services and long-term mentoring since 2022 and AMP has been forced to start a waiting list.