“Maryland Auto is not just an insurance company — they’re a difference‑maker,” says Linda, Founder of HopeWorks Global in Harford County.
HopeWorks Global, the nonprofit Linda founded after moving from Kenya, focuses on preventing human trafficking through education, training, and community partnerships. Linda revealed how one story in particular impacted her and even gave her some closure regarding her sister being trafficked in Kenya years ago. This story demonstrates how something as seemingly small as more affordable car insurance can alter the course of someone’s life.
Jennifer* grew up in an affluent area of the Baltimore Metro region and was just 17 when groomers began to manipulate her. By 21, she had run away from home and was coerced into buying an expensive car in order to secure a job that was promised to her. Between the car payment and her monthly insurance bill, which was more than $700 a month, Jennifer was faced with $1,400 a month for her total car expenses. She could not sustain herself with those expenses, and she became homeless, slept in her car, and fell into addiction. This made her more reliant on those individuals who had manipulated her into the situation.
Then she crossed paths with Linda. Realizing that Jennifer was exhibiting traits of someone who had been, “groomed and lured with the promises of a well-paying job, and was at the manipulation and coercion stage of trafficking,” Linda was determined to help her. Because Jennifer could not keep up with her insurance payments, her coverage had lapsed, triggering uninsured motorist penalties and a suspension of her registration. In order to sell the car, she would first need to reinsure it and resolve the penalties, so that the registration suspension could be lifted. Jennifer was turned down by multiple different insurance companies for coverage. “None of the insurance companies we reached out to were willing to take her. My assumption is that she was more of a liability to them and they were not willing to take the risk,” Linda said. Someone suggested calling Maryland Auto to see whether Jennifer could qualify for a policy. Linda was, “so relieved” when she contacted Maryland Auto and they said that they could help. This was a turning point that Linda describes as, “making all the difference.”
Jennifer was able to catch up on payments and address the fines tied to her lapsed car insurance policy. She eventually was able to stabilize financially and sell her car, with help from the team at an auto dealership in Harford County. With the financial pressure lifted, Jennifer has entered nursing school and reconnected with her family.
“People sometimes wonder what something like car insurance has to do with human trafficking,“ Linda said. “If Jennifer hadn’t been able to get that insurance coverage, her car would have been repossessed, and she never would have been able to sell it. That would have pushed her deeper into financial instability, and that instability opens more doors to vulnerability.”
Linda described it as a domino effect: one small barrier leads to another, and another, until a person becomes increasingly susceptible to exploitation. “Because if somebody’s struggling to pay their insurance, all that trafficker needs to know is this person is struggling to meet this bill and then comes in to offer what looks like a solution. I have firsthand experience of Maryland Auto being a support structure within our community. I know they’ve helped this one woman, and I know they have helped thousands of people.”
Linda shared that her own sister had been taken by traffickers in Kenya and ultimately lost her life as a result. Her sister’s story serves as inspiration for Linda’s advocacy and helping women like Jennifer get out of that cycle and resume their lives provides a sense of closure for her.
HopeWorks is an awareness‑driven organization, dedicated to educating communities and sharing crucial information about exploitation and vulnerability. Individuals seeking help can reach out through the organization’s website or send an email to info@hopeworksglobal.org. HopeWorks will connect them with the specialized services they need. While HopeWorks does not provide direct survivor care, they collaborate with an extensive network of partners who offer mental health support, financial recovery assistance, and legal guidance. In situations where removal or urgent intervention is necessary, HopeWorks coordinates closely with local authorities to ensure the process is handled safely and effectively. Through these partnerships and connections, HopeWorks continues to be a lifeline, linking survivors with comprehensive support systems designed to restore stability, dignity, and hope.
If you or someone you know has fallen victim to human trafficking, or is at risk, the following resources are available:
National Human Trafficking Hotline
- Call 1‑888‑373‑7888
- Text 233733
- Visit humantraffickinghotline.org
