The month of January, once the cheers welcoming the new year soften, brings awareness to the cries of those suffering from human trafficking. In 2022, over 115,324 victims worldwide were identified—a 25,000 increase in victims identified in the previous year.¹ The state of Florida alone ranks third in human trafficking in the U.S., with nearly 2,100 cases reported in 2023, trailing behind California and Texas.² Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. 

Victims are faced with various forms of force, fraud, and coercion by traffickers, such as false promises of love or a better life, the imposing of debt, isolation, addiction, fraudulent employment opportunities, psychological coercion, and violence or threats of violence.³ The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) reports significant gaps in reporting human trafficking, with as little as 14% to 18% of reports on potential trafficking victims being made.⁴

In commemoration of both Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, USFCR introduces various funding opportunities and resources to assist communities uplift those who have suffered from human trafficking as well as prevent others from falling prey to it. 

The Administration for Children & Families, under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, announces its FY25 Street Outreach Program (SOP). This opportunity is expected to award more than 50 applicants offering street-based services to runaway, homeless, and street youth at risk or were subjected to sexual exploitation, abuse, and severe forms of human trafficking. 

Eligible Applicants

• State, city, township, county, and special district governments
• Federally-recognized Native American tribal governments
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally-recognized tribal governments)
• Nonprofits with and without 501(c)3 status with the IRS
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Independent school districts
• Public housing/Indian housing authorities
• Faith-based and community organizations

Ineligible Applicants

• For-profit organizations
• Individuals
• Sole-proprietorships
• Foreign entities

Note: Priority will be given to public and nonprofit, private agencies with experience in providing services to runaway, homeless, and street youth. Private institutions of higher education are eligible to apply, but they must be a nonprofit entity. 

Applicants are eligible to apply for up to $150,000 of funding; however, a cost share will be required. Be aware that this opportunity is expected for release on February 28, 2025, and is estimated to run until May 1, 2025. 

Also set to release on February 28, 2025, the Administration for Children and Families, through the Department of Health & Human Services, supports organizations providing temporary shelter, counseling, and supportive services to youth who were forced to leave home, left without the permission of their parents or guardians, or other homeless youth that end up in law enforcement or the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems. 

Applicants interested in the Basic Center Program (BCP) may provide emergency shelter, clothing, food, counseling, and referrals for health care to youth under 18 years old; they may also provide up to 21 days of shelter for youth looking for an appropriate alternative placement or are interested in reuniting with their families. Additional services that may apply to the BCP program include: home-based services for families with youth at risk of separation, drug abuse education and prevention services, street-based services, and testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

Up to 67 organizations are expected to be awarded up to $250,000. Be aware that a cost match will be required. Once it officially opens, this opportunity is expected to run until May 1, 2025. 

Eligible Applicants

• Nonprofits with and without 501(c)3 status with the IRS
• Public, Private, and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Public/Indian housing authorities
• Independent school districts
• Federally-recognized Native American tribal governments
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally-recognized tribal governments
• State, city, township, county, or special district governments
• Faith-based and community organizations

Priority will be given to public and nonprofit, private agencies with experience in providing services to homeless, runaway, and street youth. For-profit organizations are ineligible to apply.

The Ray Solem Foundation is offering grants to U.S. nonprofits to address immigrant-related issues. Priority will be given to organizations that focus on gender-based violence, unaccompanied immigrant youth, and/or immigrants who are victims of human trafficking. Priority is also given to applicants with incomes under $1 million. The goals for this opportunity are to ensure immigrants become valued and productive members of society, advance immigrant welfare, and support the well-being of low-income immigrants living in the U.S.

Ineligible Applicants/Expenses

• Individuals;
• Operational deficits;
• Religious organizations for explicit religious activities, as distinguished from social or educational activities;
• Organizations that do not have a focus on immigrants;
• Partisan activities;
• Fraternal organizations, labor, societies, or other;
• National fund-raising efforts;
• 501(c)(4) organizations or lobbying activities;
• Organizations whose overhead percentage is more than 20% of total expenses; or
• Brand-new projects that have not yet been piloted.

The maximum grant amount is $20,000. Be aware that the Ray Solem Foundation Grant is made for two years. The next application due date is April 26, 2026.

Additional Resources

Below are additional resources to learn more about human trafficking and connect with community members to find solutions to combat it. 

• The Office on Trafficking in Persons: Under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, this organization has resources, events, and activities that educate readers on Human Trafficking Prevention Month and provide opportunities and training for organizations whose initiatives align with the cause.
• The National Human Trafficking Hotline: The National Human Trafficking Hotline gives both victims and witnesses to contact the proper authorities to report potential human trafficking incidents. The Hotline also provides statistics and other resources related to their findings. Click here for human trafficking statistics in the state of Florida.
• The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: This agency provides additional resources and opportunities for individuals and organizations involved in providing safety against violence and abuse.
• The Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking: This organization provides various news reports, resources, events, and campaigns to end human trafficking in the state of Florida.
• The U.S. Department of State: This agency provides readers with various ways to help deter human trafficking. They also give a clear breakdown of human trafficking and who is most affected by it. 
• U.S. Customs & Border Protection: This agency brings to light initiatives and additional resources to expose the severity of human trafficking and encourage readers to report it.
• The Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT): The CCHT provides various resources and a Continued Presence Program to help combat human trafficking and the importation of goods produced with forced labor.
• End Slavery Now: End Slavery Now provides visitors with a list of partnering organizations around the world working to end trafficking and forced labor, and provides many stories on modern slavery.
• Polaris Project: Polaris offers resources to identify and understand the cruciality of human trafficking as a violent crime. Polaris also calls for support towards the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act for victims and survivors of human trafficking.
• DeliverFund: This organization equips law enforcement with breakthrough technology that helps track down human traffickers. They also provide research and additional resources to help readers identify human trafficking.
• Hope for Justice: They offer various news and resources to combat human trafficking.
• Walk Free: This organization provides various articles and statistics concerning modern slavery around the world.
• Freedom Network USA: This organization is the largest coalition working on human trafficking in the U.S., offering a plethora of projects and news about the issue.
• Our Rescue: Our Rescue offers resources and collaborates with global partners to combat sex trafficking and child exploitation.
• The International Justice Mission (IJM): IJM provides supporting organizations with the ability to partner with local justice systems around the world to build safe communities where citizens are protected from violence and slavery.
• Anti-Slavery International: This organization strives to end modern slavery and provides various resources on the kinds of contemporary slavery.
• National Endowment for Democracy (NED): NED supports independent, nongovernmental groups across Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to advance democratic goals and strengthen democratic institutions.
• Mary’s Pence: This organization provides funds and holistic support to women working for justice in the U.S., Mexico, and Central America.
• The Robin McGraw & Dr. Phil Foundation: This organization offers support to U.S. 501(c)3 nonprofits that assist victims of domestic violence and assault.
• Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS): This BJS offers statistical data that serve as beneficial to assisting community members on the gravity of various social issues, including human trafficking.
• Migrant Data Portal: This organization provides updated immigration and emigration statistics globally, and includes statistics about human trafficking that would be beneficial to review.

Need Assistance?

USFCR’s Grant Writing Team can help answer your questions regarding our services. Please contact us at (866) 216-5343 or complete the grant assessment below. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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Sources

¹  Penafort, Pablo I., John Elflein, Lionel S. Vailshery, Valentina Lupo, Amna Puri-Mirza, and James Cherowbrier. “Total number of human trafficking victims identified worldwide from 2008 to 2022.” Statista. July 4, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/459637/number-of-victims-identified-related-to-labor-trafficking-worldwide/

²  “Florida Human Trafficking Statistics: Alarming Numbers and Key Insights.” Mausner Graham Injury Law PLLC online. September 18, 2024. https://mginjuryfirm.com/florida-human-trafficking-statistics/

³  “What is human trafficking?” Hope for Justice. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://hopeforjustice.org/human-trafficking/

⁴ "Gaps in Reporting Human Trafficking Incidents Result in Significant Undercounting.” National Institute of Justice online. August 4, 2020. https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/gaps-reporting-human-trafficking-incidents-result-significant-undercounting