PRESS RELEASE: Nearly 1 in 10 rough sleepers in London are victims of modern slavery

• Charity finds poor Local Authority support sees victims sleeping rough and at risk of further exploitation
  
  
• Hestia calls on Local Authorities to join forces with faith organisations, homelessness and modern slavery support charities to better identify victims and help them access safe accommodation and support
  

“Modern slavery is a horrific crime that turns a profit from brutal exploitation. Although help is available many victims still struggle. If that leaves them sleeping rough, it takes a huge toll on people who have already suffered unimaginable trauma at the hands of their exploiters. On the streets they’re at real risk of falling back into exploitation.

 

This report is a starting point for understanding the link between modern slavery and homelessness. As the leading organisation in London supporting victims, we can help train local authorities to break the cycle of homelessness and exploitation and enable more victims to access the support they desperately need to start building a life beyond crisis.”

1. Robust research

Government should carry out an up-to-date prevalence study on modern slavery in the UK. We welcome the announcement of a new Modern Slavery Research Centre by the Home Office and believe this presents a great opportunity to address the current research gap;

Local government should start systematic data collection on the incidence of vulnerable adults sleeping rough and at risk of exploitation and re-exploitation;

2. Identification and response in local areas

Local Authorities across the country should train staff across different front-line roles to recognise the indicators and risks of modern slavery, including homelessness to increase the identification of victims and prevent re-trafficking;

Homelessness charities should understand how to identify and refer victims of modern slavery and those at risk of exploitation; in particular in their outreach services, day centres and night shelters as the low threshold services these vulnerable people are more likely to access; and

Be resourced to increase the availability and accessibility of information on support services for survivors of modern slavery amongst the homeless population;

Faith and religious organisations should be recognised as groups who can support  identification and support for these vulnerable people to First Responders;

3. Develop appropriate pathways in partnership

Local Authorities should ensure the extensive take up of the Adult Modern Slavery Protocol for Local Authorities developed by the Human Trafficking Foundation and the London Anti-Slavery Working Group; and

Establish cross-sector partnerships between statutory services, homelessness and modern slavery support, and other voluntary sector services to provide alternative options for making homelessness applications that are accessible to survivors of modern slavery;

• Analysis of available data on rough sleeping and modern slavery from the National Crime Agency, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government and the CHAIN homelessness database;
  
  
• Review of available literature;
  
  
• Interviews with 12 Hestia clients who have experienced rough sleeping and modern slavery; and
  
  
• Consultation with advocates from Hestia’s Modern Slavery Response Team and the Post NRM support - Phoenix Project.