Trafficking Survivors Assistance Program

The goal of the FY 2019 Direct Services to Support Victims of Human Trafficking Program is to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to victims of human trafficking, as defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, as amended. Funding through this program supports specialized services to victims of sex and labor trafficking, as well as for efforts to increase the capacity of communities to respond to human trafficking through the development of interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness activities over a three-year project period. Legal Aid Chicago's Trafficking Survivors Assistance Project (TSAP) will provide free civil legal services for victims of all forms of human trafficking in Illinois. TSAP's primary objectives are to address the individualized civil legal needs of trafficking victims throughout the State of Illinois by providing free, high-quality legal services in civil (non-criminal) matters, including immigration, housing, public benefits, domestic relations, employment, consumer, education, and other related legal service needs related to trafficking survivorship. In addition to providing direct legal services, TSAP works in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement, local social service providers, and community- and faith-based organizations, to ensure trafficking survivors are identified and referred for additional services in other areas of need. TSAP will conduct training and public awareness activities for professionals and community members in order to improve their knowledge of human trafficking and their ability to identify and respond to, and refer survivors. TSAP's ultimate goal is to enable trafficking survivors to move to emotional, economic, and legal independence so they can live stable, self-sufficient lives, free from trafficking and abuse. CA/NCF