Expanding Supports for Young Victims of Sex Trafficking

Investing up to $46 million to support community-based and Indigenous-led programs

Our PC government is committed to combatting the growing problem of child sexual exploitation in the province. To that end, we were pleased to announce that applications for the Anti-Human Trafficking Community Supports and Indigenous-led Initiatives Funds are now open.

Over the next five years, these funds will provide up to $46 million to agencies across the province to increase community-based and Indigenous-specific services and care for child and youth victims of sex trafficking. This includes supports like specialized residential treatment for sexually exploited children and youth, and survivor-led programming.

“Over the last year, we heard from our frontline agencies, survivors and Indigenous communities and organizations that there is a critical need to increase available supports for children and youth affected by sex trafficking,” said Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North and Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues. “Our goal is to build a more comprehensive network of anti-human trafficking services across Ontario, so more victims have access to the supports they need.”

This investment is part Ontario’s Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy, a comprehensive plan that will help raise awareness of the issue, protect victims and intervene early, support survivors and hold offenders accountable.

Organizations have until 5 p.m. on July 30, 2020 to apply.