ASU study finds one-fourth of homeless and runaway young adults are victims of sex trafficking
A survey of homeless young adults in Phoenix and Tucson reveals that one in four has been sexually exploited. The primary reason given for being forced or coerced into sex was money, followed by a place to stay, drugs, protection and clothes. It involved 246 homeless young people receiving services from Tumbleweed Youth Services and One•n•Ten in Phoenix, and Our Family Services in Tucson. A total of 63 young adults, or 25.6 percent, reported a history of sexual exploitation, most involving a sex trafficker.
The numbers paint a troubling picture. Those who were sex trafficked had a higher rate of running away from home, being bullied at school and harassed by peers. They also reported a higher rate of dating violence, being molested or raped as a juvenile, and having drug or alcohol addiction.
Of those who identified a sexual orientation, the survey found lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer young adults were almost twice as likely to report being a sex trafficking victim (33 individuals, 38.4 percent of LGBTQ) than heterosexual young adults (23 individuals, 19.7 percent). Seven of the 63 victims did not indicate a sexual orientation.
“The fact that over 25% percent of the population we serve has experienced sex trafficking and related trauma is both disheartening and shocking,” says Cynthia Shuler, CEO of Tumbleweed Youth Services. “Yet, it is ultimately motivating for us to continue to reach out and serve our community's vulnerable youth with enhanced vigor and commitment to meeting their specific needs. We believe that every young person is valued and deserves a safe place to live.”
The cross-sectional study of 18-25 year olds was conducted in July 2014 by the Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University.
“The sex trafficked young adults identified in this study are in dangerous situations,” says Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, director of the ASU Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research. “Their engagement in street or drop-in services for homeless young adults should be used as an opportunity to intervene in their sex trafficking victimization.”
The Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research previously released a survey of sex trafficking victims in the juvenile justice system in May. The new survey will be released Monday, November 17 at 9 a.m. at a meeting of the Arizona Human Trafficking Council in room