In Florida, human trafficking is a crisis hiding in plain sight. From bustling tourist hotspots to quiet rural communities, traffickers exploit many of the vulnerable communities we serve, like the impoverished, the homeless and immigrants.
For many of us, the signs go unnoticed—a worker at a restaurant or a young girl in a hotel lobby. Florida ranks among the top states for reported trafficking cases, but behind the numbers are real people with stories of resilience. At LSF we are stepping into the fight. Through awareness campaigns, survivor-centered services and prevention programs, LSF is creating pathways to hope and safety across the state.
Traffickers prey on vulnerabilities, exploiting individuals through force, fraud or coercion for purposes such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, and domestic servitude. Recognizing the signs of trafficking can save lives, but how do you spot something so deeply hidden? Utilize our human trafficking roadmap to learn more about signs, at-risk populations and actions you can take.
In order to best understand human trafficking, we can look at the most basic definition. The Oxford Dictionary defines human trafficking as the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people in order to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labor or sexual exploitation.
To help you in your work of better understanding human trafficking, the ways to spot it and how to help, we’ve prepared a free printable roadmap to assist you in prevention.
Human trafficking thrives in darkness, hidden by fear and ignorance. By learning to recognize the signs, you can become a lifeline for someone in need. Every call, every report, and every act of awareness brings us closer to ending this exploitation. Through our Trafficking Victim Assistance Program (TVAP), LSF offers comprehensive support to foreign-born trafficking victims in the Tampa Bay area. This includes case management and assistance for families. Our residential youth shelters also serve teen victims of human trafficking. For more information, contact our Tampa office at (813) 875-1408 or visit lsfnet.org.
If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, call the FDLE Hotline at 1-855-352-7233. Together, we can shine a light on trafficking and help restore freedom and dignity to survivors.
Sources:
National Human Trafficking Hotline
- Website: https://humantraffickinghotline.org
U.S. Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Blue Campaign
- Website: https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign
U.S. Department of State: Identifying and Assisting a Trafficking Victim
- Website: https://www.state.gov/identify-and-assist-a-trafficking-victim
United States Institute Against Human Trafficking (USIAHT)
- Website: https://www.usiaht.org
Jamilyn Newton
- LSF North West Regional Program Director
