For Louisville, one of our initial focus cities under the initiative, we created this action guide with and for local stakeholders to help prevent trafficking of the local homeless youth population.

The post Action Guide: Trafficking Prevention for Homeless Youth in Louisville first appeared on Polaris.

This January, Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Polaris and United Way are reflecting on how these compounding crises are having a profound impact on human trafficking across the United States.

What we have long understood, but are seeing now more clearly than ever, is that human trafficking doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It is the end result of a range of other persistent injustices and inequities in our society and our economy.  

Data shows that the vast majority of trafficking victims identified in the United States are people who have historically faced discrimination and its political, social and economic consequences: People of color, indigenous communities, immigrants and people who identify as LGBTQ+ are disproportionately victimized. People living in poverty, or foster care, or are struggling with addiction, trauma, abuse or unstable housing, are all at comparatively higher risk for trafficking.  

What ties all these disparate groups of people and experiences together is that there is something they need, sometimes desperately. Survivors have taught us that traffickers expertly seek out people whose specific need they can fill – or pretend to fill. Sometimes they dangle material support – a good job, a safe place to stay, drugs. Often what they offer is less tangible but just as vital – the illusion of love, belonging, safety or acceptance.   

Preventing human trafficking at the scale of the problem means changing the underlying systems – the inequities and injustices we mentioned above – that make people vulnerable and therefore make trafficking possible. It requires moving beyond solutions that rely entirely on law enforcement. Prosecuting traffickers and seeking justice for survivors is vital, but it is not enough in and of itself to end trafficking. 

The laws and systems that need changing are not necessarily related to criminal justice. They are not necessarily specific to trafficking. They are eviction moratoria that keep people from being thrown out of their homes in the midst of a pandemic and the ensuing economic upheaval. They are changes to the foster care system to better protect youth who are aging out, and to the immigration system so that people are not so easily controlled by threats of deportation.  They are public procurement rules to ensure taxpayer funds for landscaping and construction do not contribute to forced labor and they are systems that ensure everyone can earn a living wage – a real living wage. 

We also must never forget the important work of ensuring survivors can find safety, and the supports and opportunities they deserve to rebuild their lives. This work is nowhere near done and must continue to be prioritized with survivors at the helm.   

For more than a decade, Polaris has operated the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline and that work has allowed us to build the largest known data set on trafficking in the United States. What we have learned from that data and from survivors informs our 10-year strategy, which is aimed at dismantling, repairing, in some cases upending, the systems where we think the biggest change can be made to help the greatest number. We are working to leverage the reach and power of financial systems to disrupt trafficking, build power for migrant workers in the system of recruiting workers for U.S. farms, and expanding the services available to vulnerable people to prevent sex trafficking before it happens. 

For more than 125 years, United Way has evolved to meet the needs of the times. United Way advances the common good in communities across the world. Our credo is to fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community.  The Center on Human Trafficking & Slavery does this by strengthening and expanding programs and services that support and protect our most vulnerable populations. Learn more here. 

That is why, this January, Polaris and United Way are joining forces to say:

• Fighting racism is fighting human trafficking. 
• Upholding LGBTQ+ equality is fighting human trafficking. 
• Providing safe and affordable housing is fighting human trafficking.  
• Protecting workers rights is fighting human trafficking. 

The best defenses against human trafficking are healthy families and strong communities. Because human trafficking doesn’t happen in a vacuum, our response can’t either. As we embark on a new year, join us in the fight to dismantle the systems that allow human trafficking to exist in the first place. Click here to share graphics on social media.

This blog post is co-authored by: 

Mara Vanderslice Kelly, Executive Director of the United Way Center on Human Trafficking & Slavery

Catherine Chen, Chief Executive Officer, Polaris

The post Human Trafficking Does Not Happen in a Vacuum first appeared on Polaris.

In just the past few weeks, law enforcement operations in Georgia, Indiana and Ohio have led to the rescue of some 70-plus children who had been reported missing or were considered endangered. In some cases, charges of sex trafficking have been filed. The public will likely never know a great deal of detail about how these children wound up in these horrible situations – and that’s as it should be. They deserve the privacy to heal. Unfortunately, when information is hard to come by, rumors and misinformation fill in the gaps. Some of these rumors and misinformation are spread intentionally to scare people into believing they should live in fear for their children in today’s environment. That’s only a piece of the problem with these kinds of rumors. 

Over time, rumors and misinformation can do real damage to all of our efforts to protect children and families. The most significant danger is that twisted tales of ordering children on Wayfair or trafficking rings in pizza restaurants, misdirect the attention of families and communities away from the realities of how child sex trafficking happens in the vast majority of cases. And that makes it harder to reduce and prevent trafficking of children and adults. 

The most important things to know about child sex trafficking is:

• Most children who are trafficked for sex know and trust their traffickers. The traffickers are the children’s family members, and so-called friends or romantic partners.
• The children who are most likely to end up in sex trafficking situations generally have other vulnerabilities that make them targets of this kind of abuse. Many have run away from home or are facing unstable living and family situations. Often they have been victims of other kinds of abuse in the past and so are known to someone in the child protective system. Children in foster care, for example, are at high risk of trafficking. 

This tracks with the available information about how the missing children were identified and found. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, the children recovered were known to be at-risk based on a variety of factors, such as reported incidents of sexual and/or physical abuse, or because they suffered from medical or mental health conditions. That does not mean that they could not have been snatched by a stranger, but suggests that this scenario is unlikely. The recovery efforts began by having officers investigate situations where people knew them – visiting friend’s homes and schools, for example. Charges filed after Georgia’s “Operation Not Forgotten” case, and Indiana’s Operation Homecoming, for example, included parental kidnapping and custodial interference.

Ohio’s “Operation Safety Net” led to the rescue of 25 children in the effort’s first two weeks. “These are kids that have been abused, neglected. Some involved in human trafficking,” U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott told local Cleveland station WOIO. Again, that suggested that the trafficking was not random, but rather one of the many terrible things that had happened in these children’s lives. 

None of this is to say that there are not real lessons to be learned and important information to be gleaned from these cases for those who are interested in helping to reduce human trafficking. Indeed, quite the opposite. 

What these cases show is that we can identify and protect kids at risk for sex trafficking before it comes to that – by looking for ways to help protect children living in abusive or neglectful situations, or struggling with homelessness and other risk factors. There are not – despite persistent internet rumors – 800,000 children missing in the United States. But there are still far too many kids who are unaccounted for.  Many of those are runaway or homeless youth who are particularly vulnerable to trafficking. For these reasons, it is essential that we do our part to look out for those we come in close contact within our communities and help to shape policies that better protect our children and communities. 

For those looking for ways to get involved, learn more about child trafficking and some of the myths associated with it. To support prevention efforts and help improve children’s safety, please take action through our website: Tell Congress to Support Our Youth and Help Struggling Communities. You can also support your local organizations that are working to help prevent child sex trafficking and support survivors.

The post Separating Fact From Fiction: Recent Cases of Recovered Missing Children and What They Show About Child Sex Trafficking first appeared on Polaris.

The analysis looks at three distinct time periods for the purpose of comparison:

• Pre-shelter-in-place 2019: April 1st -April 30th, 2019
• Pre-shelter-in-place 2020: Feb 14th – March 15th, 2020
• Post-shelter-in-place 2020: April 1st – April 30th, 2020

The number of crisis trafficking cases handled by the Trafficking Hotline increased by more than 40 percent in the month following the shelter-in-place orders compared to the prior month (from approximately 60 in a 30 day period to 90). Crisis cases are those in which some assistance – such as shelter, transportation, or law enforcement involvement – is needed within 24 hours.

The number of situations in which people needed immediate emergency shelter nearly doubled (from around 29 cases in Feb. 14th – March 15th, 2020 to 54 in April 2020).

The data is alarming, if not unexpected. 

“Sex and labor trafficking don’t happen in a vacuum but are the end results of a range of other problems – poverty and systemic inequity, to name just a few,” said Nancy McGuire Choi, interim CEO of Polaris. “The economic upheaval, the fact that people are essentially trapped with their abusers, the desperate straits so many find themselves in, are conditions where trafficking thrives. As society heads toward recovery we must target help to those who are most vulnerable,” Choi said.

Data from the Trafficking Hotline is not a definitive source of exactly how much human trafficking is occurring in North America at any time, and the findings of a single month are, of course, just that – a single month. Additionally, it is important to note that this analysis is only an exploration of correlation and findings and not proof that changes are caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trafficking Hotline exists to assist victims and survivors of human trafficking and questions are asked only for the purpose of providing that assistance; therefore there will be measurement variations in every situation. Finally, the data from 2020 has not been through Polaris’s review process yet and may change. For more details please click here. 

The post Human Trafficking During the COVID-19 Pandemic first appeared on Polaris.

The post Crisis in Human Trafficking During the Pandemic first appeared on Polaris.

For years, we have been staring at an incomplete chess game, moving pieces without seeing hidden squares or fully understanding the power relationships between players. The Typology of Modern Slavery, our blurry understanding of the scope of the crime is now coming into sharper focus.

Polaris analyzed more than 32,000 cases of human trafficking documented between December 2007 and December 2016 through its operation of the National Human Trafficking Hotline and BeFree Textline—the largest data set on human trafficking in the United States ever compiled and publicly analyzed. Polaris’s research team analyzed the data and developed a classification system that identifies 25 types of human trafficking in the United States. Each has its own business model, trafficker profiles, recruitment strategies, victim profiles, and methods of control that facilitate human trafficking.

The post The Typology of Modern Slavery: Defining Sex and Labor Trafficking in the United States first appeared on Polaris.

That’s because their communities aren’t simply a circle of friends to hang out with – they can be a safety net or a lifeline in times of need. They can help and rely on each other and keep each other safe, especially when people like parents and other adults who are supposed to be there for them aren’t.

“I held my breath and walked into the queer youth center for the first time. It was all concrete, spray paint, bike parts, glitter, and BO, but for the first time I knew that I wasn’t alone. I learned the beginnings of trust from other kids who had lost everything. We swore allegiances to one another, built families in the back rooms of that youth center, in parks, under bridges, in punk houses. We kept the promises we made. We grew each other up, saving one another in ways no adults, no social workers or agencies ever could.” – Sassafras Lowrey

Too many LGBTQ youth have to face problems like discrimination, misconceptions, and abuse by their peers, family members, and others. Unfortunately, having to deal with these problems can make them particularly vulnerable to human trafficking and exploitation.

That’s why community can be so important for LGBTQ youth – without support systems like stable family homes, LGBTQ youth have to rely on themselves and each other to stay safe and avoid harm. This is no easy task, because without that support, education, or access to a job market, LGBTQ youth can be left with few options to support themselves, especially if they have run away from home or are homeless.

Building the Safety Net Within Communities

We can’t just depend on law enforcement, service providers, or concerned citizens to intervene in a potential trafficking situation. We have to spread awareness about trafficking within the vulnerable communities themselves and equip individuals with the tools to recognize and respond to trafficking within their own communities.

Our new resource, Staying Safe: Tips for LGBTQ Youth for How to Protect Yourself and Your Community from Human Trafficking, does just that – it expands the safety net for victims and survivors of human trafficking within the LGBTQ community. With this resource, LGBTQ youth will learn how to recognize signs of trafficking or exploitation in their own lives or in their friends’ lives, tips for how to protect themselves and their community members from traffickers, and how to reach out for help if they suspect that they or someone they know is experiencing human trafficking.

While we highlight certain risk factors that can make LGBTQ youth especially vulnerable to traffickers, we want to stress that nothing in this toolkit is said in judgment. On the contrary, we want to commend all LGBTQ youth for the strength and resiliency they show in order to overcome the difficulties they face.

We encourage you to share this resource with your networks so that LGBTQ youth who are doing their best to survive and thrive can better protect themselves and their community members from those who seek to exploit them.

Click here to download Staying Safe.

Photo credit: Flickr / RachelFerreiraPhotography

The post Staying Safe: New Resource Helps LGBTQ Youth Protect Themselves from Human Trafficking first appeared on Polaris.

We are fortunate to work alongside the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). Similar to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, the NRS responds to calls from people in crisis, their family and friends, concerned community members, and service providers. Considering that runaways face particular risk of being targeted by unscrupulous traffickers, our ability to work in concert with NRS is of vital importance.Through our collaboration, we are able to better support runaway youth to find shelter, food, and, if in their best interest, to be reunited with family.

While hotlines meet a critical need, runaway youth also go to people they know and trust for support: their friends, family members, and educators. With this year’s theme of “Friends Helping Friends,” the National Runaway Safeline – and Polaris – want to spread awareness so that friends, family, and educators are ready to give the support that is asked of them.

Runaway youth are often hard to recognize and identify because they try to hide their situation. Adults often think they are ‘bad kids,’ when actually they are just kids in a bad situation. Every youth deserves a safe place to grow and learn. It is important that we as a society change our perspective on runaway youth, learn to recognize the signs, and offer support when it is needed. We need to remind our community, neighbors, and friends what some youth live through and how we can all be involved in supporting them.

You can help get out the word. The NRS produced a toolkit to help you bring attention to runaways in your community. The toolkit describes opportunities for community engagement in national and local events, such as Wear Green Day on November 9th or the National Candlelight Vigil on November 16th. By spreading awareness in your community, you may make it more likely for people to identify runaways. Your efforts could also help runaways to know when, where, how, and from whom to safely seek support.

The NRS made it easy for you to start the conversation in your community. Visit the NRS website for more information.

If you are considering running away from home, know someone who plans on running away from home, or have run away from home and want support, you can find that support from the National Runaway Safeline by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY.

If you are a victim of human trafficking and need immediate help or if you suspect a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or send a text to BeFree (233733).

Photo credit: Flickr / Saga Sigurdardottir

The post A Call to Action on Runaway Youth in Your Community first appeared on Polaris.

The NHTRC is partnered with over 3,000 organizations in the United States that respond to a wide array of issues that overlap with human trafficking, including homelessness. These nonprofits are the true lifelines for people most in need.

Since dedicating myself full-time to philanthropy, I’ve worked with over 100 organizations across the country, addressing causes such as domestic violence and human trafficking, animal welfare and species conservation, at-risk youth, and homelessness. Through all of these causes and organizations, one thing has always remained constant: my desire to empower individuals and communities that have had their voices ignored or taken away.

That’s why it was an incredible honor when Calvary Women’s Services in Washington, DC recognized me with their Hope Award recently.

When I first met with Calvary Women’s Services and toured their facilities I was blown away by the amazing and comprehensive work they are doing. Calvary offers housing, health, employment, and education programs that empower homeless women in Washington, DC, that help them identify and build on their strengths so they can seek independence. Calvary isn’t limited to short-term help, as they also provide concrete strategies and tools that create lasting change for the women they serve.

The services that Calvary provides are desperately needed in this city. According to a report from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, more than 12,000 people throughout the Washington region are currently homeless. Nationally, it’s estimated that nearly 600,000 people are living without homes. Despite the great work of organizations like Calvary, significant gaps remain and not enough is being done to help this vulnerable population.

This lack of a response at the scale that’s required reverberates across the many other issues we know are exacerbated by homelessness. The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that approximately half of people experiencing homelessness suffer from mental and other health issues. There must be greater access to medical care that can literally be the difference between life and death.

There are, however, steps we can all take to help alleviate this pervasive problem. Right now, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act continues to be held up in the US Congress. Runaway youth escaping family conflict are especially vulnerable because they often have no place to turn, including the more than 1 in 4 LGBT youth who are thrown out of their homes over their sexual orientation or gender identity. This crucial Act increases the maximum length of stay in Basic Center Programs to allow youth more time to access family reunification services and also strengthens the systems already in place, such as street outreach and transitional living programs. These programs are proven to help youth stay off the street and find a stable place to live. I personally find it unconscionable that this bill has not been passed despite the mounting evidence we have of its need and support. 

Furthermore, Americans must put pressure on Congress to ramp up funding for this issue. Chronic service gaps do not only stem from a lack of a shelter in certain regions, but the organizations that do exist lack necessary support to effectively operate their services.

America’s homeless population need services, not stigma. Supporting organizations like Calvary provides more than a roof over a person’s head, it offers a safe forum where voices are heard and women are empowered to take control of their lives.

And we know it works. For more than 30 years, Calvary Women’s Services has fought tirelessly to improve the lives of DC’s homeless women, with a woman moving from Calvary into her own home every 5 days. Homelessness is an issue we can all help tackle – here in DC through Calvary Women’s Services, and through local shelters throughout the country. 

*The NHTRC is now the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline.

The post Empowering Women to Change their Lives first appeared on Polaris.

Youth without safe shelter and social supports are at higher risk of trafficking and exploitation. Traffickers exploit their needs and vulnerabilities to compel them into sex or labor trafficking. LGBTQ+ youth may be trafficked by intimate partners, family members, friends, or strangers.

The coercion and control that traffickers hold over their victims, in combination with the stigma of commercial sex, may prevent youth from disclosing their situation. LGBTQ+ youth service providers may be in a unique position to recognize indicators of sex trafficking among the youth they serve and connect them with much needed services.

Sex Trafficking and LGBTQ Youth, made possible by the generous support of the Palette Fund, provides an introduction to sex trafficking for LGBTQ+ youth providers and others who are new to the issue of human trafficking. This resource provides indicators of sex trafficking, recommendations on how LGBTQ+ serving organizations can get involved in anti-trafficking efforts, and information on how to get assistance for LGBTQ+ youth survivors of sex trafficking.

Click here for more resources for the LGBTQ+ community.

The post Sex Trafficking and LGBTQ+ Youth first appeared on Polaris.