Study Documents Scope of Area Human Trafficking and Reveals Urgent Need for Services to Survivors

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, November 9th at 11 a.m. in the University Club on the north campus of Hofstra University, a press conference will be held to release a groundbreaking study on human trafficking in the New York City metropolitan area, and to announce the opening of a new safe house for survivors.

All phases of the two-year research project involved close and equitable collaboration between the staff and Board of LifeWay Network—a New York-based advocacy organization—and Dr. Gregory Maney and six graduate students enrolled in the Masters Program in Applied Social Research and Public Policy. Research questions were answered using findings from: (1) a survey of area private service providers; (2) key interviews with representatives from law enforcement agencies, coordinating and funding agencies, and private service providers; (3) and a comprehensive review of the academic literature on the subject.

The study finds that the number of trafficked persons in the area significantly exceeds official estimates. The report estimates that private service providers in the New York City metropolitan area have interacted with at least 11,268 survivors of trafficking since 2000 and at least 1,606 over the last year. According to Dr. Gregory Maney, Associate Professor of Sociology at Hofstra, "The findings underscore not only the pervasiveness of the problem, but the scope of this tragedy; for every person trafficked has experienced extreme suffering, hardship and injustice."

Moreover, several critical service needs of survivors are not being met; in particular the need for safe, long-term housing. The report finds that while 86.6% of survivors interacting with private service providers needed safe, long-term housing, only 3.9% of clients actually received it. Executive Director of LifeWay Network, Sister Joan Dawber, highlights the negative consequences: "A failure to provide for these service needs increases the likelihood of being re-trafficked, physical and psychological complications, social isolation, substance abuse, poverty, and suicide."

To help meet the urgent need for long-term safe-housing for survivors, LifeWay Network is establishing a new housing program. The program would be only the second of its kind in the area…Veronica (not her real name)-- a survivor from a high profile case--  said, " I was so grateful to live in a community where I felt safe and knew others had my back." Another survivor recently stated, "My voice is the voice of all other women...you have the power to (help) make the dreams of (trafficked) women come true."

Representatives from a government coordinating agency, a service provider, and a law enforcement agency have been invited to participate in the press conference. Collectively, speakers will stress the need to implement the study's recommendations; in particular: (1) practices by the media and other stakeholders aimed at increasing the identification of trafficking victims; (2) ways for law enforcement agencies and service providers to work more effectively together; (3) the need for greater funding to meet critical gaps in service provision; and (4) the need for increased access to services by underserved sub-populations of survivors such as youth, transgender persons, and persons born in the U.S.

SOURCE Hofstra University