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. 

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 by creating a free user account. Below is an example of digging deep on a particular topic or category in eLearning:
• Learning Topic: Sex Trafficking/Exploitation/CSEC
• Learning Topic: Labor Trafficking
• These are just a few examples of eLearning modules focused on Human Trafficking:
• Human Trafficking: Screening and Assessment Tools and Practices for Runaway and Homeless Youth Settings
• Peer-to-Peer Human Trafficking Recruitment in RHY Settings, A Trauma Informed Response
• 2021 RHYTTAC Human Trafficking Series
• Harm Reduction, PYD, and Trauma Informed Care: What Are They and How Do They Operationalize in Youth Serving Programs
• Building Trauma-Informed Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs: Understanding Trauma and Its Effects (Module 1 of 2)
• Building Trauma-Informed RHY Programs: Adopting a Trauma-Informed Approach (Module 2 of 2)
• 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

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)

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].