09.29.16

Durbin Announces $1.6 Million To Illinois Organizations To Support Human Trafficking Victims

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded Illinois organizations grants totaling $1,628,811 to provide comprehensive services to victims of human and sex trafficking.
 
“Today’s funding will help ensure that Illinois’ organizations have access to critical funding and resources to provide crucial assistance to victims of human and sex trafficking,” said Durbin. “Human trafficking is a global scourge and I will continue working with our partners in the state to stop it.”
 
Under this announcement, the following entities received funding from the Department of Justice:
 
·      Heartland Human Care Services: $750,000 to provide a comprehensive array of services for all human and sex trafficking victims identified within the Kanakee and Peoria regions. The grant will also support efforts to increase the capacity of communities to respond to human trafficking victims through the development of interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness activities.
·     Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago: $428,811 to leverage various local, state, and federal resources for the provision of legal services for all victims of human trafficking within the State of Illinois. The grant will also support efforts to increase the capacity of communities to respond to human trafficking victims through the development of interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness activities.
·     American Indian Center of Chicago: $450,000 to develop and conduct a community education campaign and provide training to certain professionals designed to increase the public’s awareness and understanding of the dynamics of sex trafficking and the special needs of American Indian and Alaska Native victims.