There will be new resources deploying throughout Minnesota to fight against human trafficking, thanks to a multimillion-dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Organizations in the state will receive federal grants totaling $4.5 million, U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced last week.
"Eradication of human trafficking is one of my top priorities as the Unites States Attorney. Here in Minnesota, we are attacking the problem of human trafficking strategically,” MacDonald said in a press release. “We must continue to speak up and speak out to help end human trafficking."
Money will go to several organizations around the state, including the Regents of the University of Minnesota, the YMCA of Greater Twin Cities and Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition. The largest single award of almost $1.5 million went to the state Department of Health. The organizations have already been working to prevent human trafficking; the money will be used to support existing programs.
As part of the campaign, the U.S. attorney office also released a 60-second public service announcement on YouTube to raise awareness of the problem in the state.
The Human Trafficking Hotline reports 120 cases of human trafficking have been reported in Minnesota so far this year.
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