Housing Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking

The Center for Violence Prevention (CVP) will provide assistance for permanent housing for victims of human trafficking in the Mississippi Delta region and Central Mississippi through its Tower Housing Assistance Program.  While this project will assist victims of all forms of trafficking, of all gender identities, races and ethnicities, CVP seeks to focus on underserved and historically marginalized rural black or African American victims in the Mississippi Delta, and foreign national Hispanic and Latino victims in Central Mississippi. Approximately twenty-seven victims will receive up to twelve months of rent assistance and up to six months of utility assistance. Project staff will assist participants with achieving financial independence through education, vocational training, and employment advocacy, increasing their sustainability after the housing assistance has concluded. Support services remain available to participants for at least one year following the end of financial support. Additionally, this project provides training to partnered service providers to improve their capacity to identify victims of human trafficking and engage in a trauma-informed supportive manner, ensuring victim confidentiality and safety. Community awareness activities in the Delta and Central Mississippi inform the general community about available resources to assist victims and help identify areas of needed outreach.