On a recent evening shortly after sundown, three young women stood on a dark street corner, eyeing passing cars and motorcycles.

Among them was Camilla Suárez, 23, who worked at a waxing salon in Caracas until a few months ago. As food grew scarce, Ms. Suárez, who has a toddler, figured that she stood a better chance of providing for her child and her parents by working in Brazil.

“I knew Brazilian women liked getting waxed,” she said.

But as she walked around Boa Vista during her first few days looking for work, doors slammed in her face everywhere she went, she said.

Soon, sex work became a last resort to stay afloat financially and manage, every once in a while, to send some money home.

“There are lawyers, nurses here among us,” Ms. Suárez said.

To steel themselves, she and her roommates have a ritual to endure the work they find soul-crushing.

“We band together to get into a strong mind frame,” she said, “so we don’t break down in tears.”

On a good day, they return to the rented room they share with the equivalent of $90 each. That covers rent and food for a week, plus about $30 to send home.

“With that, my family can eat well for three whole days,” she said proudly. “And I mean well. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.”