Editor’s Note: The above video is from KXAN’s newscast on Aug. 17, 2022
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city continues to provide resources and training tools to ensure staff and vendors who work with the city can recognize when those experiencing homelessness are “at risk of human trafficking.”
A city of Austin memo shows how the Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) is meeting the requirements of a 2022 city council resolution to reduce the risk of human trafficking. That includes educational materials that must be displayed in permanent supportive housing, overnight shelters or anywhere that is owned and operated by the city, according to the memo.
Since the resolution, HSO and the Austin Police Department’s Victim Service Unit formed a partnership and developed trainings focused on “homelessness and human trafficking.”
Their first training had “more than 58 attendees from 12 service providers and partners in Austin,” and according to the memo, “100% of polled attendees felt somewhat confident, confident, or very confident in assessing their clients for human trafficking.”
HSO said it also uses educational material from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign, which it said is a national public awareness and education program to help the public, law enforcement and industry partners recognize and respond to indicators of human trafficking.
Using materials from DHS and other agencies, HSO tailors its program to the Austin community. The agency said it also offers resources to nonprofits and housing programs, according to the memo.
In 2024, HSO said it worked with the Chamber of Commerce and the Austin Apartment Association after they expressed interest in educating business owners and property managers.
“HSO will continue to collaborate with these groups on human trafficking-related efforts,” the memo said.
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