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The Intersection of Homelessness and Human Trafficking: Why Cast Strongly Supports Measure A



California, one of the wealthiest states in the US and the 5th largest economy in the world, is also home to the largest population of unhoused people. The urgency of this crisis cannot be overstated. One in five unhoused people in this country are in California. We need immediate and long-term solutions to homelessness. Homelessness is closely linked to human trafficking. Those who are homeless are often at risk of being trafficked, and experiencing trafficking can lead to homelessness. This is one of the reasons Cast supports Measure A, which aims to increase affordable housing and tackle homelessness. 

This summer, the Supreme Court decision in Johnson v. Grants Pass allowed cities to criminalize homelessness. This decision, coupled with an executive order in California that permitted state and local agencies to forcibly move homeless encampments by clearing them from state land, has effectively made homelessness a crime. These rulings have exacerbated the already dire situation of homelessness in California.

Many factors contribute to homelessness, including poverty, stagnant wages, lack of affordable housing, domestic violence, addiction, and lack of access to physical and mental health services. However, it’s crucial to understand that homelessness and human trafficking are not isolated issues. They are deeply interconnected. From January 2023 to October 2024, 100% of Cast’s new clients who shared their housing status were homeless at the time of intake. During this period, Cast provided 742 referrals to emergency shelters or temporary hotel placements, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive solutions such as Measure A.

The danger of these rulings cannot be overestimated, especially when safe, affordable housing is incredibly scarce. It’s important to remember that people experiencing homelessness are often experiencing multiple forms of oppression and trauma. Accessing affordable housing is even more difficult for members of marginalized communities facing various forms of oppression.BIPOC communities are at a higher risk of homelessness due to a history of systemic racism, which includes housing discrimination, redlining, and segregation. These issues are compounded by job discrimination that leads to lower income levels. LGBTQ+ youth and individuals fleeing domestic violence are more vulnerable to homelessness and economic instability. Even more disturbing, many people face discrimination and exclusion from housing because they have previously experienced homelessness.

While there have been measures to increase housing, there is nowhere near enough affordable housing or shelter beds available for unhoused people in California. Criminalizing homelessness when no safe shelter options are available effectively creates a homelessness-to-prison pipeline.

Human traffickers prey upon desperate and vulnerable people, often targeting unhoused people. They claim to offer a safe place to stay and support but only deliver abuse and exploitation. Not only is homelessness a significant risk factor for being trafficked, but it is also often a consequence of escaping their traffickers. Survivors without supportive services often end up on the streets, putting them at risk of re-trafficking.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We can address homelessness and support survivors of human trafficking, all while saving taxpayers. The most recent data shows that permanently housing a person experiencing homelessness costs less than jailing them.

  • As of 2024, the cost to incarcerate someone in California for one year is approximately $132,860 (www.calmatters.org)
  • The cost to permanently house a person and provide supportive services is $51,587 annually (www.jamboreehousing.com)

Your vote matters. By voting YES ON MEASURE A, you are taking a crucial step towards addressing California’s homelessness crisis and supporting survivors of human trafficking. Your voice can make a difference.

Measure A will make Los Angeles County safer and more affordable for everyone. It will help over 50,000 veterans, survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, and people with mental health issues keep their housing and care, so they do not become homeless again. This measure will fund programs to fight homelessness, including building affordable housing, creating shelters, and providing mental health and addiction treatment services.

Tomorrow, we can address California’s homelessness crisis in a way that protects human dignity and saves Californians money. VOTE YES ON MEASURE A.

Slavery Still Exists in California. Vote Yes on Prop 6 to End It



Slavery didn’t end in 1865. It only changed forms. In California, slavery as punishment is still legal.

Forced prison labor in the United States has its roots in American slavery. Despite the 13th Amendment’s promise to end slavery, a critical loophole has allowed involuntary servitude to persist within the prison system. The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” This exception has been exploited to justify forced labor in prisons, effectively continuing a form of slavery under the guise of criminal punishment.

Some people believe that being forced to work is simply a consequence of being incarcerated, a ‘fair’ punishment for someone who has committed a crime. Incarcerated people are stripped of most of their legal rights, communications, and freedom of movement. The 13th Amendment loophole needs to be closed. Its origin is slavery because it is slavery.


“A Voice from State Prison” is a guerrilla projection art project produced by Tre Borden /Co in partnership with Legal Services for Prisoners with Children.

Why is Cast taking a position on Proposition 6?
For 25 years, Cast has fought against all forms of human trafficking. When many people think about human trafficking, they focus on sex trafficking despite the prevalence of labor trafficking in this country. No worker should be forced to work in toxic or dangerous conditions or experience harassment, including sexual harassment at work.

People experiencing labor trafficking are forced to work until their bodies are worn out and broken, often dealing with unsafe, hazardous conditions without protective gear. Many regularly face physical abuse and sexual harassment from their traffickers. When they can’t work due to disability, sickness, or injury, they are punished, often enduring physical and mental harm. Unfortunately, forced prison labor looks like a lot of the labor trafficking we work to stop.

Cast is unwaveringly committed to eradicating labor trafficking, whether it exists on farms, in sweatshops, or within our governmental institutions. As a society, we must unequivocally uphold human dignity as the standard in our government and criminal justice system. We cannot effectively combat forced labor and sexual violence in the world until we decisively address the injustices happening within our own institutions.


“A Voice from State Prison” is a guerrilla projection art project produced by Tre Borden /Co in partnership with Legal Services for Prisoners with Children.

Many don’t know that the California prison system classifies incarcerated people by status levels and classification scores. Generally, as the scores increase, incarcerated people are considered more dangerous, require more extreme security measures (including isolation), and have little to no freedom of movement or access to rehabilitation or education programs.  Points are added to the scores based on the incarcerated person’s background, sentence length, and any prior misbehavior in jail or prison, including if they refuse work for any reason. Currently, refusing to work is classified in similar ways as a violent offense or being found with illegal substances, even if the refusal stems from sickness, disability, or a desire to pursue a college degree or trade program. This leads to the unjust re-classification of these incarcerated people at a higher, more dangerous status level with the potential for removal of privileges, denial of phone calls, solitary confinement, or even denial of parole.

“If I don’t take the job, we get placed on “C-status.” We get fewer phone calls, less money to spend at the canteen, fewer visiting privileges, receive a write-up, and run the threat of going to the hole…’When is enough is enough?” – Woody H., EndTheException.com.

PROP 6 FAQs
Why can’t incarcerated people work and participate in rehabilitation or educational courses at the same time?

Incarcerated individuals do not have the ability to choose their jobs or their work hours, and programming and job assignments occur at the same time. If an incarcerated person wants to finish their degree but gets assigned a job at the same time as the class they need to participate in, they don’t have the opportunity to complete their education. Forced labor assignments are prioritized over rehabilitative courses because work assignments are forced and accompanied by punishment upon refusal.

Does Prop 6 increase spending on wages for incarcerated people?

Prop 6 does not increase wages. The Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation sets compensation for any work assignment in state prison. In contrast, compensation for any work assignment in county and city jail programs is set by local ordinance.

Doesn’t Prop 6 reward incarcerated people who are just lazy?

No. Overall, incarcerated people want to work. We’ve heard from survivors who got in trouble for trying to switch jobs to get away from sexual harassment or for wanting to attend classes on trauma or rehab – things that are proven to help reduce re-offending. When prisoners have access to mental health services, job training, and degree or certificate programs, they are less likely to commit crimes again. This saves California taxpayers money.

Does Prop 6 end work programs?

No, it makes work assignments voluntary. Prop 6 gives the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) additional tools to incentivize incarcerated individuals to work.

Does Prop 6 prevent the CDCR from ensuring that incarcerated people maintain the cleanliness of their cells and living quarters?

No. Prop 6 does not change any institutional regulations regarding CDCR ensuring the cleanliness of an incarcerated individual’s living quarters. It’s common practice that when custody staff become aware of unsanitary conditions in a person’s living quarters, they will refer that individual to mental health treatment because it is often the result of severe depression or some other serious mental health disorder.

Why do we need a constitutional amendment to do this instead of a law?

Involuntary servitude is part of the California Constitution and can only be changed through an amendment. Prop 6 will end forced labor in prisons and allow incarcerated people more opportunities to gain tools that will help them avoid re-offending and rebuild their lives.

“I am a life prisoner who is now 65 years old and have served 25 years of continuous incarceration. I have failing health, severe arthritis and am required to work as a building porter at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, California or will face disciplinary action, loss of privileges, a longer prison sentence and numerous other forms of punishment. I have considered filing an Inmate Appeal as to the requirement that I work until I am dead, and have numerous friends older than I that have severe hearing loss, lack of mobility, and ADA disabilities, including loss of sight and other conditions, who are forced to work as well as slave to the state for punishment for a crime in California.” – Alan D, EndTheException.com.

Are There Other Benefits of Prop 6?

Prop 6 would save California taxpayers money.
California taxpayers pay $134,000 per year to incarcerate one person. Prop 6 is designed to make our communities safer by reducing the likelihood of people committing new crimes. By focusing on helping individuals turn their lives around, we can save money by preventing repeat offenses and reducing the number of people who end up homeless. These cost savings can be used for community programs, mental health services, education, and other public services, benefiting all Californians and saving taxpayers money.

Prop 6 Makes Our Communities Safer and Reduces Wasteful Taxpayer Spending.
Forced prison labor undermines the ability of thousands of incarcerated people to turn their lives around. It makes it more likely that they will re-offend when returning to their communities. This dynamic contributes to high rates of reoffending and excessive spending on California’s prison system, where the majority of released individuals return within three years. Californians are investing billions of dollars in a prison system that fails far more often than it succeeds.

What You Can Do:
VOTE YES ON PROP 6 TO END INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE IN CALIFORNIA.

Please check out these organizations for more information on Prop 6:

The choice is clear: Vote yes on Proposition 6 to reduce crime, victimization, and spending on California prisons and enhance public safety.

The Provider Perspectives Study: Exploring the Criminalization of Survivors



For many years, Cast has supported survivors who have experienced criminalization over the course of their lives. Some were arrested or incarcerated before being trafficked, and made vulnerable to traffickers as a result. Some were criminalized during or after their trafficking experience, including for crimes that they were forced to commit.

In 2023, we launched the Provider Perspectives Study to learn more about the criminalization of survivors. We spoke with professionals who worked with survivors of human trafficking, sexual violence, and domestic violence about their insights on the criminalization of survivors (112 surveys and 17 in-depth interviews). Here’s some of what we found:

  • 98% of survey participants (110/112) had worked with survivors who reported their victimization to law enforcement. Among survivors who reported, the most common outcome was that law enforcement was indifferent.
  • 88% of survey participants (92/112) had worked with survivors who were previously arrested or detained. When we asked about what happened next, the most common outcome was that being arrested or detained was traumatizing for survivors. Only 12% of professionals whose clients had been criminalized reported that arrest or detention had ever made clients safer.
  • One attorney spoke about discrimination in criminal legal systems: “I can definitely sometimes sense, maybe harsher sentiments from law enforcement or other officials than I feel like I would get if my clients were citizens, or at least White”
  • A direct services provider expressed concerns about the lack of support for survivors who coped with their trauma through substance use: “I really wish there was more acknowledgement that, for a good number of survivors, the drug use was a way to cope…I’ve had to tell folks in the advocacy work, ‘remember, this isn’t a moral failing.”

Although there was no single, universal perspective – antiviolence professionals’ understandings are diverse, as are their policy positions – most had served survivors who were harmed by systems that should have supported them.

To learn more, you can explore our dashboard. You can also watch the video below for an overview of how to use the dashboard:


‘Forced Criminality’ in Human Trafficking



What is ‘Forced Criminality’?

One of the most misunderstood aspects of human trafficking is “forced criminality.” Also known as criminal exploitation, forced criminality happens when people are coerced into illegal activities like using or transporting illegal drugs, committing identity theft and violent crimes, or engaging in illegal sex work.

In a disturbing miscarriage of justice, survivors of forced criminality are often wrongly identified as criminals and face arrest and imprisonment for the crimes they were forced to carry out. For more info, check out our interactive dashboard.

Interactive Dashboard on Forced Criminality

Last year, the Urban Institute and the Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative selected Cast as one of 25 organizations across the country to participate in the Catalyst Grant Program to use data and technology to advance racial equity and reform in the criminal legal system in three front-end focus areas: prevention, policing, and prosecution.

With the support of survivor leaders, legal professionals, and researchers, we examined how Cast collects information from our clients about their experiences of forced criminality. Our findings are in our interactive infographic dashboard, where you can view Cast’s client data on forced criminality, broken down by sex and labor trafficking, age, gender, national origin, and more.

If you want to learn more about documenting forced criminality, read our Guide for Anti-Trafficking Practitioners.

Cast Conversations: A Deeper Dive on Human Trafficking Issues

Cast’s Research and Evaluation Manager, Dr. Ethan Levine, chatted with some of our project team members about their experiences with forced criminality. These Cast Conversations are also available on our YouTube Channel.

Nagwa Ibrahim is Cast’s Director of Legal Services.

Jenna Bruce is Cast’s 2023-24 Legal Fellow, President of Rotarians Fighting Human Trafficking, and a survivor of human trafficking.

Ron Kalemba is the Co-Facilitator of the Learning and Training Group for the National Survivor Network and a paid consultant on survivor-led projects.

It’s Not Just Celebrities: Cast CEO Kay Buck on Human Trafficking in Light of Diddy Accusations



In light of the allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Cast CEO Kay Buck discusses the pervasiveness of human trafficking with Giselle Fernandez on Spectrum News 1.

It’s Not Just Celebrities: Kay Buck on Human Trafficking in Light of Diddy Accusations

Legislation authored by Assemblymember Eloise Reyes Requiring California to Support Crime Victim Services Passes Public Safety Committee



AB 1956, authored by Assemblymember Eloise Reyes, passed unanimously in the Assembly Public Safety Committee. The bill requires California to support funding for essential crime victim services when there are reductions in funding of more than 10%. The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) deposits funding into the Crime Victims Fund, which provides federal funding for victim services providers. VOCA is at the center of California’s response to supporting victims of crime, and these cuts will impact programs serving survivors of child abuse, elder abuse, human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault, among others. The fund will have a shortfall of over $120 million this year, affecting service providers across the state. This reduction could lead to fewer available services and some providers closing their doors entirely.

For more information on the Crime Victim Services Stabilization Act and its supporters, check out the Reyes’ Legislation Requiring California to Support Crime Victim Services Press Release with a Quote from Cast CEO Kay Buck and the Support Letter for AB1956.

The Human Trafficking Legal Center Launches Harriet Tubman Fellowship for Labor Trafficking Survivors



WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Human Trafficking Legal Center is thrilled to launch the Harriet Tubman Fellowship. The Fellowship is inspired by Harriet Tubman, the courageous American abolitionist who helped more than 300 people escape from slavery.

Inspired by Tubman’s legacy of freedom, the Harriet Tubman Fellowship will provide support for trafficking survivors as they pursue individualized career training. The goal is to support these survivors as they seek long-term economic opportunities and leadership positions in the public and private sectors.

Read more: Harriet Tubman Fellowship Press Release

House overwhelmingly passes Fredrick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act



In a landslide vote of 414-11, the House of Representatives passed comprehensive legislation authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act for five years and strengthen and expand successful anti-trafficking programs to bolster the fight against modern-day slavery.

“This critical legislation reauthorizes funding for FY2024 through 2028—a total of five years—to continue current year enacted appropriation and authorization levels to enhance programs, strengthen laws, and add accountability,” said Smith, who authored the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and four subsequent anti-trafficking laws.

Named in honor of the renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass, Smith’s bill—the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act (HR 5856)—now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to garner broad consensus.

You can view the press release and video by clicking on the link provided here.

Attorney General Bonta Urges Congress to Offer Funding for Crime Victims



Attorney General Bonta has joined a coalition of attorneys general representing 32 states and territories urging Congress to provide critical support and services to victims and survivors of crime by taking steps to increase the Crime Victims Fund (Fund) with short-term, bridge funding. The balance of the Fund, which was established under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA), has decreased significantly in recent years. It is projected that compared to 2023 funding, the 2024 funding for victim services grants will be 41% or $700 million lower nationwide year over year.

“We must take immediate action to replenish the Crime Victims Fund to prevent the closure of numerous victim service programs across the nation,” said Attorney General Bonta.

Read more here.

CAST Nominated for The For Freedom Impact Award



Cast has been nominated for The For Freedom Impact Award, which highlights organizations that Freedom United has partnered closely with on modern slavery campaigns in 2023, raising awareness and securing significant changes for a world more resilient to modern slavery.

Voting is now open to the public  and will continue through January 25th. The winner at the end of the month. Vote for Cast here.