Covenant House exists as a safe haven to help those who are homeless and/or working to escape human trafficking. Homelessness and human trafficking are not as far removed as one might imagine, either.
Many human traffickers use vulnerabilities that one may be experiencing, such as homelessness, in order to lure them in. Then, after the traffickers have their targets right where they want them, abuse and exploitation follow shortly thereafter.
Additional resources on the ground
Similarly to Covenant House, Louisiana’s Human Trafficking Prevention Resource Center also exists to fight this iteration of modern-day slavery.
According to executive director Dana Hunter, more reports of human trafficking are expected to materialize in the near future.
However, Hunter also stresses the Human Trafficking Prevention Resource Center’s mission to do the following:
- Inform law enforcement, schools, colleges, and universities of how to recognize a perpetrator of human trafficking
- Put up signage that can help survivors who have yet to be rescued find help
- Increase levels of education and awareness about human trafficking, warning signs, and high-risk situations
Anyone who wishes to report what they believe to be human trafficking can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline via phone at 1 (888) 373-7888 or by text at 233733.
