1. Homelessness, Survival Sex And Human Trafficking

2. Human Trafficking: “Human trafficking is involves use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.” (Homeland Security)
Sex Trafficking: “Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act had not attained 18 years of age.” (National Institute of Justice)
Survival Sex: “Survival Sex is non-coerced commercial sex acts in exchange for basic human needs including food, shelter, safety, etc. In this case the individual is over 18 years of age and doesn’t have a pimp but feels as though they have no other way in which to survive.” (RHY)
Be sure to explain the difference between survival sex and sex trafficking and the stigmatizations that come along with both when considering the word “prostitute” vs. “victim”

3. Human Trafficking Globally
According to A21 (a leading global organization fighting Human Trafficking) Human trafficking not only occurs worldwide and includes both sex trafficking and various forms of labor trafficking such as domestic servanthood or child soldiers, but also the following statistics:
Only 1% of Victims are ever rescued
Human trafficking makes billion dollar a year

4. Human Trafficking in America
Infographic obtained from Polaris Project.org showing where calls of confirmed Human Trafficking have been the most concentrated. Note: The high concentration focused Albuquerque, NM. Published May 2015.

5. The Human Trafficking Story in New Mexico
Tobi Stanfill’s trafficking situation likely began at 12 years of age.

6. The Human Trafficking Hotline Gathered the Following Information:
Sex trafficking is the most common form of trafficking in NM with labor trafficking at about half of that number.
Labor trafficking venues equally included: traveling sales crews, domestic work, and peddling rings
Sex trafficking has illicit massage/spa as the top venue and hotel, online ad, truck stop and street based venues about half as common as the illicit massage/spa cases.
Most victims are female, majority are adult, but minors follow close behind, foreign nationals and u.s. Citizens are affected almost equally.

7. 36 cases of Human Trafficking were confirmed in New Mexico in 2016 which is an increase from the past few years where the numbers remained in the twenties.
We expect the number may rise again this year. Already 25 cases have been confirmed.

8. The Problem with Statistics
With a population like trafficking victims or the homeless getting truly accurate numbers is nearly impossible. In fact the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research did a small sample study in 2005 to see how accurately the homeless were counted. 58 paid volunteers went out during that years Point in Time Survey and pretended to be homeless and waited to see if they would be counted.
Shockingly only ⅓ volunteers were asked to fill out the survey that night - and they wanted to be counted!
Methods of counting for Trafficking are likely even less accurate since they require victims to self-identify, have access to a phone or escape altogether. This means that our stats listed previously are likely only ⅓ or less of the actual number of victims.

9. Key Sex Trafficking Phrases to Know
These are some terms that you may hear victims say on the street in Albuquerque and around the State:
A Pimp is the trafficker. Since this is usually done through romancing the victim the victim will usually call him her boyfriend
A John is the person who buys commercial sex and can be male or female.
A Date is where the victim does the sexual act for the John.

10. Communities at risk of Homelessness related Sexual Exploitation
Runaway Youth
LGBTQ youth
Native Americans on Reservations
Hispanics and Other Ethnic/Racial Minorities
Substance Use Disorder and Severe Mental Health
Histories of Violence, Substance Use and Poverty in the Lives of Victims.

11. Sex Trafficking and Homelessness are Interrelated
Shelter was the number one commodity traded in return for sexual activity. Of those who engaged in commercial sex activity, almost half – 48% in total - said they did it because they did not have a place to stay. (CHNY 2013)
Lack of employment opportunities and/or education frequently corresponds with homelessness and only increases the risk of exploitation. (CHNY 2013)
People reporting that they traded sex for something of value out of desperation in order to meet basic needs of survival were twice as common as… compelled sex trafficking [however] What started initially as survival sex frequently turned into coercive and violent trafficking experiences. (CHNY 2013)

12. Due to their life circumstances [homelessness], they felt they had no other choice [but survival sex] (CHNY 2013)
The youths’ awareness that sex work is one means of income where the employer is not concerned if an applicant has a home or an address, and may even prefer employees without secure homes, families or other support systems. (CHNY 2013)
The significance of the sex industry to any given economy rises in the absence of other sources of jobs, profits and revenues. (J.A. Radway, et al, 2009)

14. Identification
Human trafficking happens to so many groups for so many reasons and they are so well hidden how can agencies identify victims?
Victims Appearance ?
Clothing not appropriate for the season
Pimps/Boyfriend Relationship?
Does someone else hold their ID?
Establishing a trusting relationship is key to true identification.

15. Resources for Trafficking Victims in NM
Spoken For - spokenfornm.com
Albuquerque (505)
The Life Link - thelifelink.org (Sojourner’s Program)
Santa Fe (505)
State Text/Talk Line - (505) GETFREE
National Hotline - (888)

16. Future Considerations in Working With the Homeless
What do you see?
What do you need?