YMCA of the North: Enough. Program Rapid Rehousing and Support Services Expansion for Victims of Human Trafficking

The YMCA of the North will provide rapid rehousing services for victims of human trafficking across the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) 7-County metropolitan area in Minnesota, including Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties. The purpose of the project is to increase and enhance capacity to  implement a collaborative, coordinated, and comprehensive housing model that provides trafficking survivors with safe, stable housing and appropriate trauma-informed, victim-centered, and culturally responsive services. The proposed expansion will: 1) Deliver and expand housing interventions and comprehensive support services for victims of human trafficking by adding 2.5 FTE Housing Navigators , 2) Provide outreach efforts to increase identification of human trafficking and reduce waitlists, 3) Deliver training for service providers and community partners, and 4) Implement housing policies that incorporate low-barrier, victim-centered, trauma-informed, and collaborative approaches. The program serves young people aged 18 through 28 in the Twin Cities who have experienced trafficking and are currently experiencing homelessness, facing eviction, or living in unsafe housing. Young people served through the program are disproportionately people of color, including youth who are very low income, are parenting, and/or identify as LGBTQ2+.