Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida State Legislature Awards $250,000 to United Way of Pasco County Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts

Land O’ Lakes, FL- The United Way of Pasco County (UWPC) has been awarded $250,000 from Governor DeSantis and the Florida State Legislature to continue its direct service reach of its Fighting Human Trafficking program to the entire state. A victim of human trafficking is someone who is forced to perform some type of labor or commercial sex act with the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

“Our agency is thankful to Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida State Legislature for understanding in the importance of housing and services for survivors of human trafficking” said Charles Anderson, President and CEO of UWPC. Anderson went on to say, “human trafficking is a major issue and the survivors, our clients, are who keep us committed to our mission”. UWPC would like to thank the following individuals for believing and supporting its agency mission and program initiatives; Governor Ron DeSantis; State Senator Ed Hooper; State Representative Bradley Yeager; members of the House and Senate; Shawn Foster, Sunshine Consulting Group; Lisa Shippy- Gonzalez, UWPC Board Chair; Mike Wells, Pasco County Property Appraiser and Board Member, UWPC Board Members and staff.

Since 2020, UWPC has offered a transitional housing and wrap around services program for survivors of human sex and labor trafficking. Program is open to adult men and women and emancipated minors. Survivors in this program are placed in safe and secure housing for themselves and their dependents, if applicable. While in the program, survivors also have access to one-on-one case management for safety planning, advocacy, legal assistance, mental health, physical health, substance abuse recovery, education, job placement, personal identification card replacement and to over one hundred wrap-around service referrals.

With the continued support from the State of Florida, UWPC will be able to continue to collaborate with other non-profit anti-human trafficking agencies and law enforcement offices throughout the state. This past year UWPC has worked with a number of sheriff offices, police departments, mental health agencies, substance abuse recovery programs, health clinics, criminal justice programs, employment programs, educations programs, medical offices preforming scar and tattoo removals, dental offices and several other agencies throughout the state housing and wrap around services.

This past fiscal year alone, UWPC delivered a total of 2,060 vital wrap-around services to 114 survivors statewide. This includes over 73 instances of emergency hotel housing and transitional housing assistance to 34 survivors and their minor dependents, ensuring their independent living arrangements in apartments and houses for durations ranging from 6 to 24 months. UWPC’s Transitional Housing Program currently has 11 homes across 3 counties where they can safely house their clients. Of the program statistics, 76.31% (87) are survivors of sex trafficking, 12.28% (14) are survivors of labor trafficking, and 11.41% (13) are survivors of both sex and labor trafficking. Most recently UWPC assisted Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office with emergency housing and intensive case work management for 8 survivors after a successful sting operation. UWPC also collaborated with Pasco County Sheriff’s office to secure transportation for a client from Pasco to South Florida for safety purposes.

Survivors and referring agencies seeking assistance may contact UWPC’s Intensive Case Manager, Ben Ortberg at 727-992-0554 or email bortberg@unitedwaypasco.org.

Media Contact

Laura Knight

727-247-2499

laurak@unitedwaypasco.org