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Sexual Exploitation
(Polaris Project National Trafficking Hotline Statistics, 2021)
Definition
Commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) and
domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) include:
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being prostituted by a family member, boyfriend, or pimp
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survival sex for food, shelter, or money
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trading of sex for drugs or alcohol
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legally defined as trafficking if under 18yo (CSEC)
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being the subject of pornography
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stripping; illicit massage parlors; escort services
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child marriage; mail order bride
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sexual exploitation through religion
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sexual exploitation of refugee/immigrant
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sexual exploitation as act of war
Risk Factors
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In 2020, 102,766 children were homeless nation wide. Many were homeless because of abuse and neglect.
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LGBTQ+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their cisgender or heterosexual peers.
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Black youth are 83% more likely to experience homelessness than their non-Black peers.
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29% of homeless youth were in foster care.
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70% of street youth are victims of sexual exploitation.
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79% of domestic sex trafficking victims are identified as female.
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The top five risk factors include: migration/relocation, mental/physical health, substance use, unstable housing, runaway homeless youth.
Health Outcomes
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12% of adults in prostitution report physical injuries from violence: bruises, abrasions, missing teeth, broken bones.
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24% of adults in prostitution report reproductive health problems: STDs, UTIs, pregnancy complications, infertility.
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68% of adults in prostitution meet criteria for PTSD.
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33% of trafficked children have a history of self-harm or suicide attempts.
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According to the FBI, the average lifespan once in the sex trade is 7 years with the most common causes of death including HIV and homicide.
Policy
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79% of adults in the sex trade were under 18yo when the trafficking began.
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According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), anyone under 18yo in the sex trade is a victim of trafficking.
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Safe Harbor laws recognize youth in prostitution as victims instead of criminals.
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Law enforcement diversion and court diversion programs for prostitution provide behavioral health interventions in lieu of punitive measures.
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The Equality Model decriminalizes the selling of sex but maintains criminalization for buyers, pimps, and traffickers.
Residential Programs
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89% of prostituted persons want to escape the sex trade but lack other options for survival.
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The 89% list the following as barriers to exiting: safe housing (75%), healthcare (61%), counseling (56%), drug/alcohol treatment (47%), job training (76%), legal assistance (51%), childcare (44%).
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ALABAMA
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WellHouse (minors, adults, faith-based)
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ARIZONA
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Streetlight USA (minors, faith-based)
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CALIFORNIA
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CAST (adults)
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Generate Hope (adults, faith-based)
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Hope Refuge (minors)
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Resilience Rising (adults)
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COLORADO
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Sarah's Home (minors, faith-based)
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FLORIDA
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Latisha's House (adults, faith-based)
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GEORGIA
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Wellspring Living (minors, adults, faith-based)
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MASSACHUSETTS
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LIFT - Jana's Place (adults)
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MICHIGAN
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Sacred Beginnings (adults, faith-based)
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NEW YORK
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GEMS (minors, adults)
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OHIO
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Gracehaven (minors, faith-based)
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OKLAHOMA
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RISE (minors)
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SOUTH CAROLINA
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Jasmine Road (adults, faith-based)
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TEXAS
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Bob's House of Hope (adults, males, faith-based)
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VIRGINIA
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Latisha's House (adults, faith-based)
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WASHINGTON DC
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FAIR Girls (adults)
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*To add your residential program for CSE survivors
to this list, please email us.
101 S Topanga Canyon Blvd, PO Box 805, Topanga, CA 90290-9998
(310) 488-8195