PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia officials on Tuesday revealed who will implement plans to increase awareness of human trafficking and provide more services to survivors, during the summer’s FIFA World Cup and America 250 events.
The city awarded two contracts, totaling $500,000, for the Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Campaign. One went to ChatterBlast Media to create public awareness and training materials based on data that shows how trafficking intensifies around big, international events and how to disrupt it.
The other went to the Salvation Army for mobile support services. Area commander Capt. Felicia Lyle said the contract would allow the expansion of proven services.
“Our team provides mobile case management and street outreach, meeting survivors where they are and connecting them to care in real time,” Lyle said.
“When someone reaches out or is identified, our team can assess their needs quickly and connect them to shelter, medical care, food, transportation [and] ongoing support.”
The effort was championed by Councilmember Nina Ahmad, who said human trafficking in Philadelphia is widespread, yet hidden. She cited the city’s anti-trafficking coalition, which identified 400 victims in 2024.
“We have to invest in the conditions that protect people before exploitation finds them and we have to build a response system across the city,” she said, stressing that human trafficking should be treated like a public health problem, with a focus on prevention.
“It is a criminal justice issue, a human rights issue and a moral one,” said Ahmad, “and unless we are willing to name it as a public health crisis as well, we will keep meeting survivors only after the harm is done.”
The campaign runs from mid-May through early August, but officials have expressed hope it could permanently strengthen support for survivors.
