Hello, My name is Leecy. I am raising money for Jonathan, a Black and Native male who has autism and has recently survived human trafficking and exploitation.

This GoFundMe is to help him begin to get stable after 2 years of being trafficked and exploited.

Our goal is $16,876.

We are three people trying to get Jonathan to safety. Jonathan's mother, Leecy, a supporter and organizer, Anne, and a social worker, Nayeli.

We are using a drawing instead of photos and a pseudonym, for his safety.

To conduct this GoFundMe, we created an independent tax entity for financial accountability and for Jonathan's safety.

Everyone knows about the crisis of girls and women in sexual trafficking. But the trafficking of boys and people with developmental disabilities in human trafficking is not known. I had to learn about it too.

Jonathan was targeted specifically because he has autism, by a trafficker promising autism training, transportation, stable housing, and an eventual job.

Even with a college degree, the U.S. unemployment rate for people who have autism is 85%. Jonathan desperately wanted to work, and since COVID even finding part-time or occasional work had proven impossible.

With the promises of training and work, came favors. The favors were rides and acting like a big brother who cared. The favors were a set-up to the "debt bondage".

Debt bondage is a severe form of human trafficking where a person is forced into labor or service to repay a manipulated debt (a lie), making it impossible for them to ever be free.

While anyone can be a victim, debt bondage disproportionately affects vulnerable individuals, such as those in poverty, and is strictly illegal in the United States under federal law.

The trafficker took Jonathan's phone, all of his ID, closed his bank account, isolated him, and now he is starting completely from scratch.

All crisis beds for survivors in the city he is in, are full.

He only has what he is wearing.

There are no non-profits where he is, that offer this help in an outreach scenario for someone who is without stable shelter.

And,

To access certain autism services and supports, a recent autism assessment is a requirement.

Without these supports integrated with supportive housing, Jonathan remains at risk.

Remaining at risk means a risk to fall back into victimization at the hands of the same trafficker or through new exploitation.

This often happens when victims who are in poverty escape violence. If there are no or inadequate supports or if they become unhoused, they are left vulnerable and targeted again by abusers. They are subsequently re-victimized in new violence.

To get these things done and get Jonathan to ongoing, sustained safety without high vulnerability and risk of re-victimization, we have a goal of $16,876 to help him.

1. For an immediate, short-term room rental, he needs $2,575 for a room for 3 months in the city he is in.

2. For clothing and shoes, we are allocating $250.

3. For a disability support worker to go to him and take him to appointments to get tasks done (getting his ID, meetings with police, meetings with therapists) is $22 an hour with a minimum 6 hours a week to 12 hours a week.

This means approximately $1,075 a month.

He'd need this help for at least 9 months. So this is a $9,680 goal.

4. His ID replacement will cost $500.

5. And the autism assessment is $3,871.

Thankfully, with the support of community, this GoFundMe can help Jonathan get a chance of security and a hopeful future.

Jonathan's story:

Jonathan grew up in a single parent family with his mother. He has no other family. His mother got very sick with severe illnesses where she is facing blindness and the end of her life, leaving Jonathan alone.

Jonathan's mother has no money or personal support.

His mother has herself often been unhoused and has no secure housing where Jonathan can go to. Leecy's illness and hospitalizations increased Jonathan's vulnerability and he was targeted.

The trafficker specifically targeted people with developmental disabilities by promising them training that would help their autism.

After the promises, and favors, Jonathan was isolated and the trafficker transported him to different locations. This cut off his connections to familiar places, people and any support systems and disoriented Jonathan. This made it more difficult for him to escape and increased his dependence on the trafficker.

Jonathan was subject to severe beatings, starvation, and was almost killed when he tried to escape. He stayed on the streets, hiding and searching for places to stay each time he fled. He slept behind buildings and in alleyways, while the trafficker actively searched for him.

With each effort to get away, Jonathan would try to find someone to use their phone to call his mom or give someone her number. His mom contacted Victim Services. Victim Services was unable to help find him get to safety or get a safe bed.

Jonathan, was terrified to go to the police, because the trafficker said he would find out if he did, claiming that he has police contacts. The trafficker said he would kill him if he went to the police.

It was during Jonathan's third escape attempt, that the trafficker found out that Jonathan's mother had figured out he was being trafficked and was trying to help him. The trafficker tried to kill him, believing that his mother would go to the police.

She didn't, as Victim Services advised her not to do so, until Jonathan was fully safe. They said that traffickers do often kill their victims, if they believe they will report them.

Leecy's testimony:

How you can help:

Please, don't think that any amount of money is too small. $5 is plenty. Don’t feel you have to give any more than that. Because with $5 each coming from the many who I hope find it in their heart and who care, we will reach the goal of $16,876.

If you cannot donate and would still like to help, please take the time to share this GoFundMe and spread the word if you can!

Thank you again for being willing to touch Jonathan's life, to make a difference, and give Jonathan safety, and ... a chance.

Statements of Support:

My name is Nayeli and I am a social worker and licensed therapist. I saw Leecy for weekly therapy from 5/2025-5/2026. Leecy has no stable ongoing housing and no family support and is working to coordinate support for their son, Jonathan.

During my conversations with Leecy I’ve learned of Jonathan’s dangerous and difficult situation. Jonathan is currently in urgent need of housing for at least three months, while longer-term housing solutions are pursued.

He needs urgent housing that is safe and has a sense of normality, to help him re-integrate from the years of being traficked. This re-integration reduces his risk and vulnerability.

Despite attempts to access victim services and social services, there are no available beds for him, and the waiting lists for supportive housing are years long.

Jonathan has been violently victimized repeatedly, including very recently, and receiving shelter will help protect him from further harm.

It is urgent for Jonathan to receive your community support to have safety and I encourage you to support this member of our community.