Vancouver Rape Relief & Women’s Shelter

The Vancouver Rape Relief & Women’s Shelter is a not-for-profit organization that operates a 24-hour rape crisis centre and a shelter for women and children experiencing family violence. The organization also provides public education events that are free and accessible to all. As well, the organization supports women and girls involved in prostitution, including those who are victims of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Services offered for the latter survivors include a crisis line support, transitional housing, support for survivors through police visits, and crisis supports for women experiencing violence.

Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre

The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre provides meals and practical support for over 1000 women and children daily. The organization works to connect individuals who identify as women to a continuum of services, including outreach services, drop-in centre services, emergency shelter services, counselling services, advocacy services, wellness and recreation services, which includes self-help rehabilitation programs, as well as housing and skills development supports. Services, including shelter services, provided through the organization focus on harm reduction and are low barrier. Finally, the organization provides victim services that are culturally safe and trauma-informed to women who are survivors of crime and violence.

Covenant House Vancouver

Covenant House Vancouver provides supports and services to youth experiencing homelessness and human trafficking. It applies a person-centred care approach to ensure that the overlapping mental health, substance use, medical health and other challenges are addressed in a coordinated and specialized way. The organization also provides integrated case management, a drop-in centre, an outreach team, a crisis program, Rights of Passage transitional housing support, housing support workers, substance use programs, and mental health services.

Migrant Workers Centre

Migrant Worker Centre (MWC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to legal advocacy for migrant workers in British Columbia. MWC facilitates access to justice for migrant workers through the provision of legal education, advice, and full representation. MWC works to advance the rights of migrant workers and provides resources and education related to labour exploitation and trafficking and works in partnership with other agencies to ensure that all the needs of workers are met through wraparound supports. MWC can provide support to workers in the form of free legal services, including advice on immigration status, employment standards and civil complaints. In addition, the organization can provide referrals for other support services such as housing and health care.

Elizabeth Fry Society of Peel-Halton (Bonnie McPhee House and Female Mobile Support Program)

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peel-Halton operates the Bonnie McPhee House, which offers short-term emergency housing, as well as specialized programming and supports, to female-identifying survivors of human trafficking aged 16 to 24 years. The house can host up to six residents at a time. 

Elizabeth Fry Society of Peel-Halton (Female Mobile Support Program)

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peel-Halton operates the Female Mobile Support Program, which offers support to women and girls aged 12 years and over who are at risk of or experiencing exploitation. In particular, the program offers case management services.

Our Place Peel (nCourage Hub)

Our Place Peel operates the Anti-Human Sex Trafficking Integrated Service Hub (nCourage Hub). The nCourage Hub is an integrated service hub located in the Region of Peel. It hosts several organizations offering services to survivors of violence, including of human trafficking, in the same building. This ensures that survivors only have to go to one location to receive the services and supports they need, and that they do not have to tell their stories to multiple agencies and service provides.

Safe Centre Peel

The Safe Centre of Peel provides wraparound services to adults who have experienced violence and abuse. Services offered to survivors include risk and needs assessments, individualized safety planning, counselling, referrals to specialized sexual assault services, and transitional housing support.  The organization uses a "Client Navigator" system, which is a person assigned to a survivor who follows them through the process of accessing services and support. The organization’s offices are located within the nCourage Hub.

The Safe Centre of Peel, in collaboration with the Peel Regional Police, launched a pilot project of “Safe Centre Response Teams” in January 2023. Two response teams consisting of a mobile support worker with expertise in gender-based violence and a specially trained police officer will provide support services and initial care to victims of intimate partner violence. 

Peel Human Trafficking Service Providers Committee

The Committee met with members of the Peel Human Trafficking Service Providers Committee during a roundtable hosted by the Peel Regional Police. This committee consists of organizations based in the Region of Peel and the Greater Toronto Area working in education, employment, health and social services. The goal of this committee is “to reduce victimization and enforce human trafficking laws.”

Hope Alliance and Victim Services

Hope Alliance works actively with people affected by human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Hope Alliance offers a number of training and education services, as well as other prevention services, with the mission to reduce the risks of individuals becoming victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the Sault Sainte-Marie region. The organization prioritizes each individual’s autonomy and dignity.

Algoma Family Services

Algoma Family Services works to promote individual wellness by providing specialized mental health services to children, youth, adults and families in the District of Algoma. Their work includes developing specialized programming for youth and substance use, as well as on family violence. Algoma Family Services created collaborative workshops on the community human trafficking response plan.

Nogdawindamin Family and Community Services

Nogdawindamin Family and Community Services works to support seven First Nations. Services and programs offered through the organization include the following:

·        cultural services, such as debriefing, supporting, teaching and referrals;

·        youth Prevention services including Mino Madzwin, education liaison, housing support and youth in transition programs; and

·        children and adults’ mental health services, related to trauma, anxiety, depression, coping skills and intake and counselling, as well as access to a Behavioural Therapy Model Program.

Sault Ste. Marie Airport

The Committee met with representatives from the Sault Ste. Marie airport. The airport partners with the anti-trafficking awareness organization, Not In My City, to raise awareness about and prevent human trafficking. Training is provided to airport employees, including at airline counters, security staff, car rental counters, or others working in terminals, to recognize the signs of human trafficking.

Halifax Regional Police

The Committee visited the headquarters of the Halifax Regional Police. During the visit, the Committee met with members of the human trafficking and sexual assault units.

Nova Scotia Association of Black Social Workers

The Nova Scotia Association of Black Social Workers is a not-for-profit organization composed of Black social workers and human service workers in Nova Scotia. One staff member works as the Sexual Violence and Human Trafficking Prevention Coordinator. This employee is working to “build strong partnering relationships with other organizations who are engaged in human trafficking, support communities and organizations in building public awareness on sexual violence, human trafficking and exploitation of ANS [African Nova Scotian] youth and engage in prevention work for ANS youth specifically for ANS boys and men.”

YWCA Halifax (Safe House)

YWCA Halifax is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve the economic security, well being and opportunities of women, girls and their families in the Halifax region. The organization’s activities include programs for survivors of human trafficking. YWCA Halifax has a specific program to support youth aged 13 to 24 years who are victims of sexual exploitation or human trafficking. The program offers multiple services tailored to participants’ needs, including housing support, one-on-one support, legal assistance, material support, and employment and education counselling. In Halifax, the Committee visited a safe house operated by YWCA Halifax.