Homeless Youth Labor and Sex Trafficking in Denver

I received a call today from Chris, an outreach worker at Denver's homeless youth services Urban Peak. He said he had to pick up some kids left stranded by a "sales crew." I never heard of such a thing so it didn't register or make sense.

When I arrived at their downtown facility I met Jeremy and Alicia. They were left stranded by an group that exploits homeless youth for labor. These organizations promise great income and fun travel. To a kid in poverty, being able to travel and make money is often too sexy to resist. Of course, this is just a labor trafficking scheme. The kids make very little money, are often abused, and when they want out they are left stranded back homeless, often worse than when they started.

Jeremy and Alicia, up until this morning, were sleeping in a bus station. Alicia is 21 and pregnant. This could have been a horrible situation, but luckily they found Urban Peak. They received a hotel voucher for tonight and will get travel assistance tomorrow so they can take a bus back home.

For more information on labor and sex trafficking of homeless youth, watch this powerful video:

 

 

 

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Comments

[Polaris Project]

01:51 PM on 07/28/2010

Thank you for covering the issue of labor trafficking in sales crews in the United States. While human trafficking is surely a abhorrent practice in the United States, there are resources available for victims.

If you suspect that you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline at 1 888-373-7888 to report a tip or request more information.

[Halsey]

01:36 PM on 07/28/2010

I so wish our system of justice could crack down on these dangerous bait and switch entisements that target the vulnerable young. Of course, I also want world peace. Most important, I am glad that at least Alicia and Jeremy are able to return home. But (I, as a bleeding heart liberal AND pragmatist at the same time and unafraid being policially incorrect) am quite angry with Alicia for bringing a baby into her unstable world. There ARE (especially in large cities like Denver) many organizations that would provide FREE birth control. Alicia is young and has time to get settled into some future before bringing another life into poverty and uncertainty. I do have sympathy for the exploitation of the Alicia's of our country; nonetheless I am quite angry with her for getting pregnant (and yes, Jeremy as well..it's called USE a rubber).

[Jamie Hedges]

01:28 PM on 07/27/2010

I become ever more concerned about this problem in our America. My concern is raised further by the full extent of trafficking that includes the black market for human organs and bodies. We cannot effectively fight underground trafficking while allowing commercialized trafficking to go unaddressed. I am referring to Premier Exhibitions being allowed to display tortured and executed Chinese activists here in the U. S. as part of BODIES... THE EXHIBITION. Read more of my reaction at http://jamielewishedges.info/2010/07/27/indian-jew-chinese/