Research published today by leading homelessness charity The Passage, at the request of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, has highlighted the vulnerability of homeless people to trafficking and exploitation.

According to the research the majority (64%) of homelessness organisations surveyed have come into contact with potential cases of modern day slavery. The appeal of an offer of work and accommodation to someone who is sleeping rough can be easily understood, but their precarious situation means they are vulnerable to people looking to exploit them. The report tells the story of one man who had been approached by traffickers near a soup run in central London and offered work outside the city where he was made to work for long hours for little money and in poor conditions.

For others, escaping from exploitation can mean they end up on the streets. Even after victims have been through the official channels for support, the lack of a joined up system to provide longer term housing and money for basic supplies places people at real risk of homelessness and destitution.

The report from The Passage highlights the realities of exploitation for homeless people, but also reveals a need for improvements in the way the homelessness sector approaches it.

Disappointingly the report found that although a majority of organisations had encountered potential victims of modern day slavery less than half (46%) had reported any such instances to the police. Similarly, less than half of the organisations had internal policies or guidance on modern day slavery.

In response the report calls for greater training and awareness for frontline staff in homelessness organisations so that they can better identify when clients may have been trafficked or are at risk of exploitation, and how to refer them to appropriate support. It also recommends improved record keeping processes so that the true extent of modern day slavery can be better understood and dealt with. The report also calls for stronger partnerships between the homelessness sector and other agencies including police, anti-trafficking organisations, local authorities and other statutory services, both to assist individual victims but also to create a more joined-up approach to addressing trafficking and homelessness.

CARE welcomes the insight provided by this report and hopes that it will lead to development of greater understanding within the homelessness sector and help strengthen a coordinated response from frontline organisations and statutory agencies. We also hope that it will help the Government to understand the very real possibility of re-trafficking faced by victims once they leave a safe house if no pathway to longer term accommodation and benefits is put in place.