Protect Homeless Youth from Human Trafficking

Trafficking in persons is a crime against humanity and ultimately a sin. God calls us into community with each other as sisters and brothers, not as exploiters and exploited. We must protect those most vulnerable and seek conditions that support wholeness and health for everyone.

Women and children represent the largest percentage of those being trafficked, and homeless youth are especially vulnerable. It is estimated that approximately 1.68 million youth experience homelessness each year in the U.S. For more than 40 years the Federal government has provided funding for programs that provide street outreach, temporary shelter and services, and transitional living to this population.

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA) looks to improve the programs by expanding funding for research, data collection and collaboration, creating a National Runaway Youth Hotline, and adding nondiscrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. It is estimated that nearly 40% of the runaway and homeless youth population identifies as LGBT. The enhancements in this bill would help providers give more appropriate services to this population.

In a resolution of witness entitled “A Call to Awareness and Action to End the Practice of Trafficking in Persons,” the 27th General Synod of the United Church of Christ called on UCC members, congregations and various settings of the church to engage in education and advocacy on Human Trafficking. Want to learn more? Check out our UCC resources.

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