Intersection of Human Trafficking and Youth Homelessness

According to research conducted by Chapin Hall, 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:

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. 

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 explores screening and assessment tools and practices for Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) settings.

• 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.

• Search Term: Human Trafficking
• Learning Category: Exploitation
• Learning Category: Labor Trafficking
• Learning Category: Sex Trafficking

• 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

• 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

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].