Imagine being a victim of human trafficking. Now imagine, after escaping from being bought and sold against your will, you discover you are deeply in debt because your personal identity was used to fund your own exploitation. This is the shocking reality faced by many victims of human trafficking here in Canada, with most not even aware of this debt, which averages $20,000 per victim, until after they escape their trafficker. Fraudulent or coercive debt is a major barrier to victims’ recovery and without assistance and debt elimination, it is highly likely that survivors will be trafficked again. Now, through Victim Services Toronto’s national Reclaim program, help is available.
Reclaim assists human trafficking victims across Canada by working with creditors to remove fraudulent or coercive debt from their name. The only program of its kind in Canada, Reclaim advocates for victims so they can move towards reclaiming their life and identity, and can avoid having to continuously explain their situation to strangers, thereby retraumatizing them again and again.
Financial exploitation often follows sexual exploitation
As we approach World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, this is an ideal time to speak about this issue with loved ones and support the services that are working tirelessly to change the lives of those affected. While Canadians are becoming more aware of the disturbing prevalence of human trafficking in our country, Victim Services Toronto has discovered our nation’s understanding of this issue varies drastically across regions, and there are inconsistent levels of resources allocated to address and eradicate human trafficking. However, one thing is consistent: many of us are unaware of the financial exploitation often faced by survivors of human trafficking.
Fraudulent or coercive debt is established when the identity of the human trafficking victim is stolen or the person is forced by their traffickers to borrow money for various reasons such as cell phones, hotel rooms and transportation – the very tools used to exploit them. By burdening their victims with debt, the traffickers are able cover their tracks and avoid detection or persecution. This identity fraud or coerced debt stays with the survivor after they have left the abusive situation, overburdening them and often taking them by surprise. Survivors cannot get credit, a job, or safe housing, thereby drastically impeding their recovery.
$1 million in debt removed to date
“At Victim Services Toronto, we believe that no person should ever be held liable for the financial instruments through which they were bought and sold,” says Carly Kalish, Executive Director, Victim Services Toronto. “This is an issue beyond our city – it is happening in communities across Canada – and we know how to help. Our success assisting victims facing financial exploitation in Ontario fueled our sense of responsibility to advocate for human trafficking survivors across the country. We appealed to the government for funding to expand our reach, and we are proud that Reclaim now supports survivors anywhere in Canada as they fight to regain their rights and quality of life.”
Victim Services Toronto has helped hundreds of survivors find their financial footing, with Reclaim removing more than $1 million in fraudulent or coercive debt to date. The success of this program hinges on the cooperation of many types of partners such as survivor advocates and agencies; the financial sector; creditors and consumer reporting agencies; law enforcement; and government and policy makers. Victim Services Toronto works with these partners to act as a verifier, helping survivors remove past debt from their credit report, open a bank account, and access credit. Reclaim also educates survivors on basic financial skills to support their long-term success and they can contact Victim Servies Toronto for help at any time – even years later. Reclaim never closes a case.
Confronting the insurmountable for survivors
“Financial exploitation of survivors adds insult to injury, and the team behind Reclaim are unsung superheroes who are saving lives,” says Kaitlin Bick, Human Trafficking Case Manager, Victim Services Toronto, and human trafficking survivor. “On average, those helped through the Reclaim program are just 21 years old and they’ve been trafficked for four years already. To them, this debt seems insurmountable, and in many cases, it is, without help. Reclaim works without judgement to address survivors’ real needs in rebuilding their lives.”
Victim Services Toronto added this financial advocacy program to its family of programs in 2022, and recently revamped and relaunched it as Reclaim. This process has been led by a Peer Expert Panel comprising those with lived experience of human trafficking. As the true experts in trauma-informed care for survivors, this group spearheaded all aspects of the revamp and national expansion and was able to relate to the issue and advise on best practices. Their work has resulted in a stronger national program capable of helping more survivors across the country.
“We know how to help. You’re not alone.”
Determined to foster fundamental change on this issue, Victim Services Toronto is part of a coalition that helped pass the “Protection from Coerced Debts Incurred in Relation to Human Trafficking Act” in Ontario in December 2023. The organization is now assisting other provinces to enact similar legislation to prevent further exploitation of survivors.
If you’re a survivor of human trafficking facing financial exploitation, or if you’re advocating for a survivor, reach out to Victim Services Toronto to join the Reclaim program at www.victimservicestoronto.com/reclaim.
Making a Difference with Victim Services Toronto, Every Day
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons puts a global spotlight on human trafficking, but the reality is these issues profoundly affect people in Canada every single day. Victim Services Toronto supports victims of human trafficking and runs prevention programs as an important part of its mandate. But its work does not stop there. Victim Services Toronto is the only Toronto non-profit that works tirelessly to provide immediate trauma-informed support and advocacy for any person who has experienced crime or sudden tragedy. Its mission is to empower individuals, their families and their communities through a range of specialized programs to ensure safety, support and healing. Those who wish to support Victim Services Toronto by making a donation, planning or attending a fundraising event, or volunteering are asked to visit www.victimservicestoronto.com.
