Systematic Review of Housing Interventions for Those Experiencing Human Trafficking

• In Event: Experiences of Violence and Victimization Among Unhoused Persons

Abstract

Purpose: Research has identified homelessness/housing insecurity as a risk factor for experiencing human trafficking, and housing often emerges as a pressing need experienced by many human trafficking survivors. Given the intersection of housing and human trafficking, we conducted a systematic review to examine the state of the literature on research evaluating housing interventions for those who have experienced human trafficking. This study sought to identify available interventions in the empirical literature and the effectiveness of those interventions. Methods: Our search for peer-reviewed and grey literature in 12 bibliographic databases and 11 websites initially yielded 2,515 studies. After removing duplicates, title/abstract screening, and full-text review, 17 studies were identified for inclusion. Results: Human trafficking interventions identified in the empirical literature include residential treatment facilities, group home treatment facilities, crisis housing and shelter, and transitional housing. The reviewed studies included environment scans, process evaluations, outcome evaluations, and combined process/outcome evaluations. Despite promising findings, the few outcome evaluations used pre-experimental designs. Conclusions: Review findings highlight key gaps in research on housing interventions for human trafficking survivors. To adequately address the housing needs of survivors, there is a clear need for more rigorous housing intervention research.

Authors

• Cynthia Rizo, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Spenser Radtke, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Jennifer O'Brien, University of New Hampshire

• Lindsay Gezinski, University of Utah