Since housing instability can re-traumatize survivors of human trafficking and can put them at greater risk of being re-victimized, this paper provides guidance on “rapid re-housing” that can meet the needs of trafficking survivors by providing a flexible rent subsidy for victims likely to maintain housing stability after short-term rental assistance and limited case management support.
The provision of time-limited rental assistance requires an assessment of the survivor’s long-term housing plan. It is critical that during the time-limited rental assistance, survivors are provided specialized services that facilitate the prevention of continued victimization and the development of long-term economic and housing stability. Survivors who receive Rapid Re-Housing assistance must be approved for a lease. A victim service provider can facilitate this process by working with landlords in the community, serving as a liaison to address barriers to lease approval. Service providers can also accompany the survivor to an appointment with a landlord when necessary and with the survivor’s permission.