According to research conducted by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, every year an estimated 4.2 million young people between ages 13-25 experience homelessness, including 700,000 unaccompanied youth ages 13-17 (“Missed Opportunities: Youth Homelessness in America”). Runaway and homeless youth (RHY) are at higher risk of becoming victims of sex and labor trafficking due to their homelessness situation. These youth are perceived as easy targets by traffickers because of their lack of housing, connections, resources, and safety nets. Certainly, human trafficking intersects with youth homelessness in many ways, for example:

Many youth served by RHY programs have experienced abuse, neglect, or violence in their homes which has forced them to run away. These traumatic situations make them more vulnerable to becoming victims of sex and labor trafficking.

In some states, youth experiencing homelessness cannot sign a lease, continue their education, access medical and mental health services, find a job, or apply for federal assistance. This situation increases their vulnerability to human trafficking, including trading sex for something of value (i.e., shelter, food, transportation).

Traffickers capitalize on the vulnerabilities of youth experiencing homelessness and target these youth as victims and accessories to criminal activities.

Labor traffickers (individuals and businesses) recruit homeless youth because they know that these youth are looking for job opportunities, and these opportunities are limited while living on the streets.

It is important that RHY programs enhance their capacity to identify and prevent trafficking. Programs should focus on five key areas including prevention, identification, interventions, effective referrals, and collaboration, by using victim-centered, trauma-informed, and positive youth development approaches. 

New Tip Sheet (2024)
Human Trafficking: Screening and Assessment Tools and Practices for Runaway and Homeless Youth Settings

Identifying youth at risk of or experiencing human trafficking in RHY settings requires programs to use holistic approaches which include formal and informal strategies. Through screenings and assessments, RHY programs can make appropriate referrals and connections with partner agencies to provide the best service team for each young person. 

• This tip sheet addresses:
• How programs prepare for conducting screening and assessments
• Considerations for implementing and recognizing trafficking in RHY settings 
• Identifying trafficking by using validated and evidence-based tools  
• Survivor leadership resources  
• And more! 

Download the Tip Sheet (English)

• A la Oficina de Servicios para Familias y Jóvenes (FYSB) y al Centro de Capacitación y Asistencia Técnica y Desarrollo de Capacidades para Jóvenes Fugitivos y Sin Hogar (RHYTTAC) les complace anunciar la disponibilidad de este recurso en español.

Increase Your Knowledge

Learn more about Human Trafficking by accessing the below resources and tools to assist RHY programs in building their capacity at the intersection of human trafficking and youth who run away or are experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

RHYTTAC Resources

• In RHYTTAC’s eLearning platform, you can search among hundreds of training topics and specific training modules by creating a free user account. After logging in, click on 'Catalog" and then filter courses using the search bar or 'Category' drop-down menu. You can access courses by using the following terms and categories:
• Search Term: Human Trafficking
• Learning Category: Exploitation
• Learning Category: Labor Trafficking
• Learning Category: Sex Trafficking
• Here are a few examples of training courses focused on Human Trafficking available in eLearning. After logging in, click on 'Catalog" and search for these course titles:
  
• Peer-to-Peer Human Trafficking Recruitment in RHY Settings, A Trauma Informed Response
• Human Trafficking Series
• Human Trafficking Overview & Latest Data
• Meeting the Needs of Young People Who Experience Human Trafficking: Lessons from the Field
• Access Digital Resources and Factsheets HERE.
• Human Trafficking Resources
• Human Trafficking Prevention Strategies for Runaway and Homeless Youth Settings Issue Brief
• Sex Trafficking/Exploitation/CSEC Resources
• Labor Trafficking Resources
• An Evidence Review on Prevention, Screening, Assessment, & Intervention for Youth Experiencing Homelessness and Human Trafficking

Other Resources and Articles

• Privacy, Engage, Ask, Respect, Respond (PEARR)
• Confidentiality, Universal Education, Support (CUES)
• Human Trafficking Interview and Assessment Measure (HTIAM-14)
• Quick Youth Indicators for Trafficking (QYIT)
• A Research-Based Question and Answer Resource on Sex Trafficking for Youth-Supporting Professionals (Activate)
• How to Start a Conversation With a Young Person Who May Be a Sex Trafficking Survivor (Activate)

Additional Resources

More Information

Looking for more information or support on how to incorporate effective human trafficking prevention and intervention practices into your programs? Request individualized Technical Assistance or contact us at [email protected].