GUELPH – Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis (WIC) has received funding from the province to tackle human trafficking and its effects on victims.
Jensen Williams, public educator for the agency, said she can’t disclose the amount WIC received, but it’s enough to hire a staff person dedicated to anti-human trafficking initiatives in Wellington County.
“We’ve been offering support (to human trafficking victims) since the 1980s, but this funding allows us to raise awareness of the supports we have and just the fact that [human trafficking] is happening here,” she said.
The province announced $3.6 million for anti-human trafficking initiatives last summer and has been disbursing the money ever since.
Williams said WIC will be offering free presentations on human trafficking to youth groups, workplaces and service clubs who ask.
They will also be launching an ad campaign.
Williams said WIC has four locations in Wellington County – in Palmerston, Erin, Fergus and Mount Forest- and offers crisis support, counselling and safety planning, and can steer women toward legal supports as well.
“We offer practical assistance as well as the trauma healing piece,” she said.
The funding was one-time funding, which means the new person is hired on contract.
“We hope the province sees the need for ongoing funding,” Williams said.
“We certainly do.”
For more information, visit gwwomenincrisis.org.
