The province has announced $6 million over three years for a Children at Risk Exploitation Unit in Kenora.
The funding comes from its Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy.
Jaye Wesley from the Kenora Sexual Assault Center and heads up Kenora’s Coalition Against Human Trafficking and is working to set up the CARE unit.
“We have found a residence that will be home to the care unit,” Wesley confirmed at a special ceremony announcing the funding.
“We have met with numerous agencies and collaborated to ensure that all the services needed to run the CARE home will be provided.”
Wesley adds that human trafficking is a hidden, but pervasive problem locally.
“It’s very prevalent here. We get a lot of individuals who we deal with, who have been trafficked at some point and are either trying to get out on the other side, or they are actually in the process of being lured or groomed.”
Wesley says they will be able to house four youth between the ages of 12 to 17 in the home.
