This paper outlines best practices for housing services in the provision of services for victims of human trafficking.
Basic best practices include reducing barriers to services; promoting self-determination of survivors of victimization; assessing a survivor’s immediate and long-term housing needs; discussing appropriate programs and referrals; acknowledging a survivor’s identity, culture, and language needs in identifying appropriate housing options; providing accurate information on options; and enabling the survivor to choose which housing option is the best fit for her/him. Policies and practices that discourage a survivor’s autonomy and choices are listed. This paper notes that survivor services that follow a survivor rights-based approach assist survivors in regaining trust, a sense of safety and self-sufficiency, and a recovery based in autonomy. In contrast, survivors who are judged, discounted, not believed, treated as criminals, discouraged from sharing in defining their needs, and are not involved in selecting services for their needs tend to abandon services and become re-involved in trafficking.