$8.8 Million Awarded to Support Survivors of Human Trafficking

The Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) within HHS’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) recently awarded 8.8 million dollars to 19 organizations that provide case management services to survivors of human trafficking. Awardees will conduct outreach to potential victims of human trafficking and provide training to build the capacity of local service providers and community partners to respond to human trafficking.

“Survivors of human trafficking are resilient; they have persevered through significant trauma and exploitation,” said Katherine Chon, director of OTIP. “These grants will help remove some of the barriers survivors face by providing wraparound support and immediate access to resources and services.”

Several of the awards will also fund a new pilot program to address human trafficking in disproportionately impacted Native American communities. The program was created following consultations with tribal leaders and organizations working with Native youth, recognizing the interconnections between human trafficking and missing and murdered Native Americans.

“We have learned from Native American and Pacific Islander trafficking survivors that cultural and traditional practices are a critical element of their healing journey,” said Jeannie Hovland, commissioner for ACF’s Administration for Native Americans. “This funding honors Native voices by including cultural wisdom, allowing these programs to provide more holistic and culturally infused services.”

Local efforts will be further supported through continued operation of the National Human Trafficking Hotline, providing 24/7 call, text, and online chat options for survivors to connect to local services and community members to seek help.

“With increased awareness of human trafficking across the country, more victims are reaching out for help and more communities are identifying cases of human trafficking,” said Lynn Johnson, assistant secretary for children and families. “From 2018 to 2019 alone, the National Human Trafficking Hotline experienced a 19 percent increase in contact from victims and survivors. We look forward to helping local communities reach out to at-risk populations. I want to ensure that no survivor of trafficking goes without assistance.”

Three-Year Demonstration Grants to Strengthen the Response to Victims of Human Trafficking in Native Communities (VHT-NC) Program:

• Alaska Native Justice Center Anchorage, AK $260,000
• Child and Family Service Waimanalo, HI $260,000
• YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minn. $260,000
• North Carolina Department of Administration Raleigh, N.C. $260,000
• Puyallup Tribe of Indians Tacoma, Wash. $254,059
• Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Keshena, Wis. $200,000

Three-Year Domestic Victims of Human Trafficking Services and Outreach (DVHT-SO) Grant Program:

• Volunteers of America Los Angeles, Calif. $360,000
• Ruby’s Place Castro Valley, Calif. $360,000
• Center for Family Services, Inc. Camden, N.J. $360,000
• Kristi House, Inc. Miami, Fla. $359,800
• YouthCare Seattle, Wash. $351,554
• New Mexico Dream Center of Albuquerque, Albuquerque, N.M. $311,752
• Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. Phoenix, Ariz. $297,418
• The Avery Center Greeley, Colo. $287,924
• FAIR Girls Washington, D.C. $284,496
• North County Lifeline, Inc. Oceanside, Calif. $279,336
• The Salvation Army Cincinnati, Ohio $273,410
• J Bar J Youth Services Bend, Ore. $260,000

Five-Year National Human Trafficking Hotline Grant Program:

Polaris Washington, D.C. $3,500,000