Hiatus House’s Anti-Human Trafficking Initiative

Expanding access to free, evidence-informed resources that support service providers in recognizing and responding to human trafficking.

A Guide for Shelter Professionals Working with Survivors of Human Trafficking

The Pan-Canadian Human Trafficking Guidebook implementation project is a national initiative focused on expanding access to evidence-informed resources that support service providers in recognizing and responding to human trafficking. Building on the Women and Gender Equality (WAGE)-funded project, the Guide for Shelter Professionals Working with Survivors of Human Trafficking, this initiative aims to increase awareness, strengthen organizational capacity, and promote trauma-informed, survivor-centered approaches to support across Canada.

Strengthening Human Trafficking Awareness and Response

The Guide for Shelter Professionals Working with Survivors of Human Trafficking was developed to strengthen the capacity of service providers to recognize and respond to human trafficking. The resource equips users with foundational knowledge, trauma-informed and survivor-centered approaches, and practical guidance for supporting individuals who may be experiencing exploitation.

What’s Included?

This guidebook provides further information on a range of topics, including:

Who Is This Guide For?

This guide may be useful for:

  • Shelters and transition houses

  • Victim services organizations

  • Community-based organizations

  • Housing and homelessness service providers

  • Youth-serving agencies

  • Indigenous-serving organizations

  • Social service providers

  • Other frontline professionals who may come into contact with survivors of human trafficking

  • What is human trafficking?

  • Forms of human trafficking

  • Exploitation on a spectrum

  • Who are the traffickers?

  • Who is vulnerable?

  • Grooming, luring, and recruitment

  • Intimate partner violence and human trafficking

  • Indicators of trafficking

  • Screening and assessment tools

  • Trauma-informed care

  • What survivors need

How It Helps

Key benefits of implementing the guidebook include:

  • Increasing staff knowledge and awareness of human trafficking

  • Strengthening trauma-informed and survivor-centered practices

  • Improving preparedness to respond to individuals affected by human trafficking

  • Enhancing organizational capacity

  • Accessing a free, evidence-informed resource

  • Using flexible, self-paced learning materials

Still Have Questions?

Take a look at our FAQ and Project Information sheets below:

FAQ
Project Information

How to Download the Guide