Rep. Jim Himes marked Human Trafficking Awareness Month by visiting to a local nonprofit to meet with survivors.

Himes paid a visit to Partnership to End Human Trafficking, a Bridgeport nonprofit that he helped secure a $1 million grant from the Department of Justice.

Officials say the money will help survivors of any age or gender get crisis support, food, shelter and legal services.

Himes says people often hesitate to talk about human trafficking.

"This is partly about showing folks that, right here, there are organizations and facilities, like this one, that are designed to allow women in particular, here, to recover from some very, very ugly and difficult situations," he said.