Last year the RCMP reached out to our Y for assistance in supporting human trafficking victims involved in a human trafficking ring that was active in Southwestern Ontario.
RCMP project ‘OExplorer,’ was one of the first times an investigation had a victim centered approach, and the Y was one of many community agencies who were asked to support victims.
Y Staff pictured are Regina Croskery (second from left) and Isabella Perez (second from right), Spanish speaking settlement advisors, and Firas Sefian (right), Manager of Settlement and Integration. In addition to speaking Spanish, Regina and Isabella, are also experienced in the unique needs, barriers and challenges that vulnerable newcomers face which was appreciated by the RCMP officers.
The RCMP saw great results due to the engagement of the various stakeholders, and now the approach is being taught as a best practice for law enforcement across the country for similar situations.
YMCA Settlement staff supported the victims immediately after they we removed from the house they were being held captive in and continued to provide settlement and integration supports to those that chose to remain in Canada.
The victims were migrant workers and refugee claimants from Mexico and other countries in South America. The RCMP officers shared that many of the victims expressed gratitude for the support that our Spanish speaking settlement advisors provided to them. The victims described the staff as helpful and compassionate and quoted as saying, "We know the YMCA staff care about us."
The Y receives funding from the Ontario Ministry of Immigration, Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) to run the Newcomer Settlement Program (NSP) in the Communities of Sarnia-Lambton, London-Middlesex and Huron County. This program funds settlement advisors that support newcomers that are not eligible for federally funded newcomer services including Refugee Claimants, Migrant Workers, International students and work permit holders.