There is a direct link between homelessness and human trafficking in Atlanta, according to Covenant House Georgia, an organization serving homeless youth in the city. Approximately 3,300 to 3,500 young people were identified as homeless in Atlanta during the most recent count, highlighting a crisis that makes them vulnerable to traffickers.
Young people experiencing homelessness often lack basic necessities like stable housing, which traffickers exploit to gain control. Covenant House Georgia addresses this issue by providing shelter and essential support to young adults aged 18-24. With space for over 100 residents, the organization offers services ranging from academic support and workforce development to recreational therapy.
“It’s important to know this is a safe space, and when it comes to housing and receiving food and other immediacies that you need on a day-to-day basis, you can come here and receive those things, and you don’t have to sacrifice who you are to be able to get that,” said Alfred Garner, Chief of Programs at Covenant House Georgia. He emphasized that more than 1,700 young people are expected to seek their services this fiscal year, representing only about one-third of the city’s homeless youth population.
The connection between homelessness and trafficking extends beyond Atlanta.
Nationally, human trafficking is big business, generating around $150 billion in illegal profit annually. A wide range of victims are affected, including unaccompanied minors crossing U.S. borders. Traffickers target vulnerable populations, including homeless youth, to exploit for forced labor or sex trafficking.
Trafficking has increased significantly in recent years. In the last fiscal year arrests for trafficking rose 50% and convictions increased 80%.
Critics argue that federal immigration policies have worsened the trafficking crisis by failing to secure the southern border, making it easier for traffickers to operate. The rise in unaccompanied minors entering the U.S.—averaging over 12,000 monthly—has led to increased cases of trafficking among immigrants. With less stringent vetting processes for sponsors of unaccompanied minors, many children have been placed in unsafe situations.
Atlanta’s crisis is urgent, with more than a thousand homeless young people left unprotected and at risk of trafficking. Addressing homelessness, particularly among youth, is seen as a critical step toward combating trafficking. Garner encourages Atlanta residents to support Covenant House’s mission to provide safety and essential resources to those most vulnerable.
