Ivanka Trump’s campaign to end human trafficking today will get a new boost from the administration with grants worth $35 million to help victims settle into normal life.
At a roundtable with top White House officials and Attorney General William Barr, she will oversee the announcement of Justice Department grants for housing and employment for victims who often find it hard to land a job or find a place to live.
It comes at a time when those challenges are greater because of the coronavirus, officials said.
In the plan, $35 million in Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking will go to 73 organizations in 33 states to provide six to 24 months of transitional or short-term housing assistance for victims of trafficking.
Officials also said the support can be used by victims to find jobs and receive occupational training and counseling. Some 70% of the victims are domestic.
Ivanka Trump, also a senior White House adviser, is “very passionate” about the issue, said a senior official. She has held several meetings on human trafficking, helped focus the United Nations on the crisis, and hosted a White House trafficking summit in January.
Early in his Administration, President @realDonaldTrump committed to bringing the full force and weight of the U.S. Government to tackle this horrific problem.
Since then, he has signed 9 pieces of legislation into law that directly address human trafficking. pic.twitter.com/R4uncb1WUO
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 31, 2020
At that summit, President Trump drew attention to her efforts and said, “Ivanka has been a champion for administrative and legislative actions to combat human trafficking. And a true heart — she has — this issue has been so important to her.”
In a statement, Ivanka Trump said, “In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, combating human trafficking in the U.S. and abroad is critical work. DOJ’s grant recipients are on the frontlines of this fight, ensuring that survivors across our country are afforded safe and stable housing and empowered with the support and resources they need to rebuild their lives.”
