Around $1.5 million will be dispersed among Mississippi organizations assisting victims of human trafficking.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that the funding was made available through the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund, which was created by the state legislature in 2020.
Today, Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced the distribution of nearly $1.5 million from the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund to nine organizations that aim to help human trafficking victims become survivors. This year’s awards bring the total distributed for human trafficking victim services to $11 million since the fund’s inception.
“Working together, we can put an end to human trafficking in our State. Mississippi is blessed with many organizations, including these nine, committed to walking alongside victims on their journey to find healing,” Fitch said.
“I am grateful to the State Legislature for ensuring these organizations have the resources they need to support these brave individuals working to rebuild their lives. And I am thankful for the Fund Committee for their commitment to ensuring these organizations have the resources they need to support these individuals as they work to rebuild their lives.”
The latest recipients include:
- Center for Violence Prevention ($441,507.62)
- to enhance and expand the reach of support services throughout Mississippi and improve outcomes for human trafficking victims through their Tower residential program and the Rapid Response Team of advocates. They will continue operating the Tower Learning Center to support client group and individual activities in a trauma-informed and appropriate space for focusing on goal achievement.
- Domestic Abuse Family Shelter ($283,134.20)
- to continue providing comprehensive services to victims of human trafficking in their 11-county service area and continue providing education to the community through public awareness presentations and outreach efforts to reach populations vulnerable to human trafficking.
- Easterseals ($51,236.48)
- for prevention efforts including human trafficking education and awareness in Lee and Pontotoc Counties.
- Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence ($241,219.73)
- to continue providing a comprehensive and holistic array of services to families and individuals in crisis due to human trafficking. They also plan to provide trainings on sex trafficking, trauma-informed care, and connecting survivors to program services.
- Hope Community Collective ($3,000)
- for a bilingual family support services advocate.
- Mississippi Coalition Against Human Trafficking ($161,608.08)
- to continue growing and supporting their Independent Living Assistance Program (ILA), a program designed to promote sustainable independent living for survivors of human trafficking. Participants will be connected to mentoring, peer support, financial planning, resources, and follow-up case management for 12-18 months.
- Southern Christian Services ($239,215.50)
- to continue operating Mississippi’s safe home exclusively for adolescent survivors of human trafficking which allows young survivors to receive specialized and evidence-based therapeutic services for up to two years. They will also provide therapy services to secondary victims such as parents, guardians, and caregivers to create supportive relationships for primary victims.
- Southwest Mississippi Children’s Advocacy Center ($38,502.51)
- to provide a comprehensive array of services for both child and vulnerable adult victims of human trafficking. The award funding will be used to continue their mental health therapy program and sustain the services of the mental health therapist.
- Sunnybrook Children’s Home ($7,198)
- to continue their collaboration with Southern Christian Services and the Mississippi Coalition Against Human Trafficking in providing a safe home for adolescent survivors of human trafficking.
During the 2025 special session, Gov. Tate Reeves vetoed the appropriation of $2.5 million for the fund As a result, the committee overseeing the program awarded partial funding for approved projects in December 2025. During this year’s session, state lawmakers appropriated full funding, which was given the green light by the governor.