Press Release Human Trafficking in San Francisco – 2017 Data Report

San Francisco Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking Issues

Human Trafficking in San Francisco – 2017 Data Report

Today, the San Francisco Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking releases the Human Trafficking in San Francisco – 2017 Data Report. The report details the number and types of human trafficking survivors identified by 22 government and community-based agencies in San Francisco in 2017.

Some of the highlights in the 2017 Data Report include:

  • Agencies identified 673 cases of human trafficking in San Francisco.  While this number includes duplication, as multiple agencies may be reporting the same person or case, it helps provide a baseline to better understand what is often a hidden issue.
  • The Report examines the demographics of reported cases with the majority being young women of color. Seventy percent of cases were individuals under 25 (23% were minors and 47% were youth between 18 and 24 years of age). Seventy-one percent of cases were cisgender or transgender women. Seventy-three percent of cases were people of color, nearly half of whom were Black or African American and more than a quarter were Hispanic/Latinx.
  • More than half of all reported cases (55%) were individuals trafficked in commercial sex industries, such as Outdoor Solicitation, Escort Services, and Residential Brothel. Twenty-five percent of cases involved trafficking outside commercial sex industries, such as Restaurant & Food Service, Domestic Work, Construction, Hotels and Hospitality, and many others, and 20 percent were unknown.
  • Consistent with previous years, the trafficker was most commonly a romantic partner (98 cases), followed by unrelated employer (59 cases).

 

“We must continue to protect our community members—especially our young people—from being exploited,” said Mayor London Breed. “In partnership with service providers, San Francisco recently secured a $9.3 million grant to provide wraparound services to help youth who have been exploited or are at risk of human trafficking. With the commitment of all the members of our Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking, we can prevent trafficking and help survivors in our City.”

 

Dr. Emily Murase, Director of the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women, which staffs the Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking, added: “Human trafficking is happening here in San Francisco and it is all around us. By collecting this data, we can better target the city’s approach and better serve those who need us the most.”

 

The full Human Trafficking in San Francisco – 2017 Data Report is available at the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women website: https://sfgov.org/dosw/mayors-task-force-anti-human-trafficking