Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) announced $750,000 in federal funding for United Against Human Trafficking (UAHT) in Texas’ Seventh Congressional District.  United Against Human Trafficking is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support for the survivors of labor and sex trafficking and educating the community to prevent exploitation.  This funding will specifically be used to expand UAHT’s existing services for the survivors of human trafficking and their families, the outreach program to help identify victims of human trafficking in marginalized communities, and the education program for frontline professionals.

“This federal funding will provide invaluable support for the survivors of human trafficking in Houston and their families, as well as help enhance community education on this horrible practice,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “It is important that we work to both eliminate human trafficking and help survivors obtain the comprehensive services they need and deserve.  I am glad the Department of Justice has provided this funding to United Against Human Trafficking to enhance their vital work for our community’s most vulnerable.”

“We are thrilled to accept this grant to enhance our work with survivors of human trafficking,” said Elaine Andino, Director of Partnerships. “This funding will help us identify more labor and sex trafficking victims and expand our case management services to these survivors as they forge their own pathway to freedom. Our vision is a world with zero tolerance for the buying and selling of human lives and we are beyond excited to partner with the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims to make this vision a reality.”

The funding was allocated through the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Services for Victims of Human Trafficking program.  This program works to enhance the quantity of services available to the victims of human trafficking, as defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Funding through this program supports direct services to victims of sex trafficking and labor trafficking, as well as for efforts to increase the capacity of communities to respond to human trafficking through the development of interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness activities over a three-year project period.