Download the full report: Enhancing Modern Slavery Prevention Within The Homelessness Sector in the UK
Modern slavery and homelessness are deeply connected – and the risks are growing. People without stable housing are more vulnerable to exploitation, coercion, and trafficking.
This landmark report by The Passage and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner explores how and where prevention is working – and where it’s falling short.
It draws on collaboration across all four UK nations and places the voices of people with lived experience of both homelessness and modern slavery at its core. From frontline services to government strategy, the research offers urgent insights into how we can stop modern slavery before it happens, especially for people experiencing homelessness.
Key findings from the report
🔗 Homelessness is a major risk factor: Over 40% of survivors supported by The Passage were homeless at the time they were exploited.
🚫 Prevention is too often reactive: Most current systems intervene after someone is trafficked – rather than tackling the vulnerabilities that make exploitation possible.
🧠 Training gaps leave survivors unprotected: Housing professionals and homelessness teams often lack the knowledge or tools to spot modern slavery and respond effectively.
🎙️ Survivors want to be part of the solution: People with lived experience say education, housing, and involvement in service design are crucial to reducing risk and building trust.
🤝 Collaboration is essential: Joined-up action between local authorities, charities, healthcare, and law enforcement is key to stopping exploitation before it begins.
What the report includes
- A review of 14 anti-slavery and homelessness prevention projects.
- Insight from survivors, frontline workers, and sector experts.
- Examples of good practice from Westminster, West Midlands, Scotland, and more.
- 9 actionable recommendations to improve prevention and support.
This report is vital for homelessness services and outreach workers, housing and safeguarding teams, local and Combined Authorities, anti-trafficking organisations, researchers, policymakers and funders.
Whether you work on the front line or shape policy, this report will help you better understand the connection between modern slavery and homelessness – and what we can do to prevent it.
Want to help raise awareness?
Share this page with colleagues or on social media, tagging The Passage (@PassageCharity) and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (@UKAntiSlavery).
#EndModernSlavery #HomelessnessPrevention