HHS and HUD National Joint Listening Session on the Intersection of Human Trafficking and Housing and Services for Survivors

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will host a national joint listening session to address the intersection of trafficking and the need for housing and social services for survivors. In response to the Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking, HHS and HUD have been working to coordinate efforts to address the needs of human trafficking survivors, recognizing that housing and supportive services are critical in serving survivors.

The listening session will continue HHS and HUD’s efforts by bringing together social service and housing providers serving adult survivors of human trafficking in order to:

• Understand the challenges facing housing and social service providers in meeting the needs of adult (18+) survivors of human trafficking and those at risk of trafficking for safe and appropriate housing and support services;
• Recognize best practices in housing and support services for trafficking survivors; and
• Help identify potential changes in policy, technical assistance, outreach, or other areas to better assist housing and social service providers effectively meet the needs of this population.

The three main questions HHS and HUD will be discussing are:

1. What are the major challenges you face in helping survivors access housing and supportive services in your community?
2. Are you involved in or aware of any promising practices on the ground in this area
3. What are the top three things you believe HUD and HHS could do to help the work you are doing on the ground?

The national listening session will be conducted through a phone call on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM EST.