Services and Supports for Immigrant Victims of Human Trafficking

With twelve years of experience in providing comprehensive legal and social services for foreign-born survivors of human trafficking in Southeastern Pennsylvania (PA), Nationalities Service Center (NSC) has identified six existing gaps for this population: housing assistance, access to mental services, access to medical care, immigration legal services, case management supports and economic empowerment. Under this project, NSC will fill in these gaps for foreign-born survivors in the five counties of Southeastern PA (Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties). The activities in this proposal will enhance and strengthen NSC’s existing capacity to help survivors achieve independence and self-sufficiency. The goals of this proposal are: 1) Strengthen housing assistance supports for survivors of human trafficking; 2) Provide mental health services and wellness activities to survivors enrolled in the program; 3) Provide access to health insurance and primary care for foreign nationals affected by human trafficking; 4) Increase capacity to provide immigration legal assistance; 5) Provide comprehensive case management supports that are culturally responsive; 6) Refer clients to NSC’s Job Readiness training; and 7) Provide training and public awareness to increase identification of human trafficking victims. For the 36-month project period, this proposal aims to find safe and appropriate housing for 30 survivors, file 240 applications for legal immigration relief for foreign-born survivors and qualifying family members, provide mental health services to 30 survivors, provide access to medical care to 30 survivors, provide training to 300 professionals to increase victim identification in the region, and refer 30 clients to NSC’s Employment team for Job Readiness training. All survivors receiving comprehensive services under this proposal will receive case management services through the program to help coordinate internal and external referrals for services. By providing enhancing culturally responsive services to culturally immigrant populations from Latin America, Africa and Asia, the program will continue to promote access to justice and supports for immigrant victims affected by human trafficking who have been historically underserved, marginalized and affected by inequity.