PHILADELPHIA, PA — With human trafficking cases climbing sharply across the region, Pennsylvania officials and survivor advocates gathered Thursday in Philadelphia to unveil a powerful new digital hub aimed at disrupting exploitation and speeding help to victims statewide.
During a roundtable held at The Greater Philadelphia Salvation Army as part of Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency announced the launch of a centralized, trauma-informed resource portal designed to unite law enforcement, service providers, and the public in the fight against trafficking. The site, created in partnership with Villanova’s Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation, is now live at pa.gov/HumanTrafficking.
“Many people believe, ‘human trafficking could never happen to me,’ but the reality is that it can affect anyone, anywhere,” said Kathy Buckley, director of PCCD’s Office of Victims’ Services. “The fight against trafficking begins with coordination and working together to raise awareness of the warning signs, making sure people know where and how to report, strengthening support for survivors, and holding perpetrators accountable.”
The gathering brought together state lawmakers, law enforcement, advocates, and survivors to assess the growing scope of trafficking in the Philadelphia region and across Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition reported a 23 percent increase in identified survivors during 2024–25 compared with the prior year, a rise advocates say is alarming — and incomplete.
“These figures are especially concerning because they reflect only survivors who were identified and engaged in social services,” said Natalie Proud, chair of the coalition and program director at Covenant House. “Human trafficking remains largely hidden, and many victims go undetected by law enforcement and service providers. As a result, these numbers likely represent only a fraction of the true scope of trafficking in Philadelphia.”
Coalition data show that 59 percent of identified cases involved sex trafficking and 34 percent labor trafficking, with survivors most often seeking food, housing, legal aid, therapy, medical care, and education.
State Rep. Regina Young, D-Philadelphia/Delaware, warned that Pennsylvania faces heightened risks in 2026 as the Commonwealth hosts major national and international events that could draw traffickers seeking new victims.
“We’ve acted in the House with my bill that would increase trafficking awareness training for lodging employees, but it takes all of us to stand up for victims and be vigilant in prevention,” Young said.
Advocates emphasized that the new website provides a critical backbone for that vigilance, offering warning signs, reporting tools, and survivor-centered guidance for communities across the state.
“At New Day, The Salvation Army’s anti-trafficking initiative in Philadelphia, we provide survivors with trauma-informed, survivor-centered services that address immediate safety, housing stability, and long-term healing,” said Kelly Devlin, director of social services for The Greater Philadelphia Salvation Army. “Human trafficking thrives in silence, which is why strong partnerships like the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition and resources such as PCCD’s new website are essential.”
The Shapiro-Davis administration has backed the effort with $14 million in new funding for Pennsylvania’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program over the past two state budgets and has restructured the state’s Anti-Human Trafficking Workgroup under PCCD to sharpen coordination among law enforcement, service providers, and outreach groups.
“Supporting survivors of trafficking is not a matter of ‘rescue’ but a comprehensive approach that needs to involve all sectors of society,” said Heather LaRocca, divisional social services director for The Greater Philadelphia Salvation Army. “The healing journey is lifelong.”
Officials urged anyone who may be experiencing or witnessing trafficking to seek help immediately through pa.gov/HumanTrafficking, which connects users to reporting tools, emergency assistance, and survivor support across Pennsylvania.
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