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Legislative bills

Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Address Homelessness Among Human Trafficking Survivors

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and Representatives, led by Senators Sherrod Brown and Roy Blunt, and Representatives Joyce Beatty and Ann Wagner, has introduced the Trafficking Survivors Housing Act. This legislation aims to commission a study to review current homelessness and housing services for survivors of human trafficking. The bill seeks to address the critical vulnerability of homelessness, which often contributes to human trafficking.

Supporting organizations and stakeholders include 180 Demo Advocating Opportunity, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, Child Welfare League of America, and many others.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trafficking Survivors Housing Act would require the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) to commission a study on the availability and accessibility of homelessness and housing services for survivors of trafficking.
  • The study would review the effectiveness of current policy and procedures, assess the capacity of mainstream housing services to meet the distinct and specialized needs of labor and sex trafficking survivors, and identify barriers to and best practices for meeting the housing and service needs of survivors of trafficking.
  • The bill would help address the severe shortage of affordable housing nationally, and the lack of safe and stable housing for trafficking survivors, which is becoming a crisis in many areas of the country.
  • The legislation aims to break the cycle of vulnerability and exploitation that survivors so often experience by providing access to safe and supportive housing.
  • The bill has been introduced in 2019, 2018, and 2021, indicating ongoing efforts to address this critical issue.

Statistics:

  • Nearly 25 million people are victims of human trafficking worldwide, with the vast majority being women and girls.
  • The U.S. Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking reported that "sustainable housing is a significant issue in achieving long-term recovery and self-sufficiency for human trafficking survivors."
  • Only one out of four eligible households receives federal rental assistance due to funding limitations.
  • The Trafficking Survivors Housing Act would commission a study to review the availability and accessibility of homelessness and housing services for survivors of trafficking.

Sources:

  • United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
  • United States House of Representatives
  • Shared Hope International
  • National Alliance to End Homelessness
  • Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO)
  • 180 Demo Advocating Opportunity
  • Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
  • Child Welfare League of America
  • Children's Lantern
  • CleanTurn Cleaning Service
  • Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CAT-W)

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