Victim Services Toronto

Published purpose

Project Recover advocates with creditors on behalf of human trafficking survivors, with the goal of eliminating their fraudulently incurred debt. One key strategy of traffickers is financial abuse, which results in two forms: coerced debt and identity fraud of victims. Expenses linked to trafficking activity are put in victims’ name and associated with a credit card or bank account. Project Recover will provide a summary report to all creditors and request the removal of the survivor’s debt liability and any references to it on their creditor report. Survivors have the option to work with their own “Personal Financial Coach”. The intervention has volunteers from the financial services sector who provide survivors with budgeting, money management and credit skills. Debt removal and coaching will assist survivors to access housing, pursue employment and education opportunities. Project Recover will move into Victim Services Toronto and allow clients to work directly with a Survivor Peer Advocate trained in counseling and trauma. Together they will build compelling cases with proper documentation for all survivor clients.