The University of South Florida’s Trafficking in Persons Risk to Resilience Research Lab will create added resources to combat human trafficking and aid victims, after receiving nearly $3 million from the 2024 federal spending package.
The funds will go towards the development of a statewide database to assist law enforcement in human trafficking investigations and the expansion of an online platform to provide critical resources to survivors, such as housing and mental health, as they transition into a new life.
At the request of U.S. Congressman Scott Franklin, around $1.85 million will go towards the expansion of the TIP Lab’s BRIGHT Network. This online platform, developed in close collaboration with anti-trafficking professionals and survivors, helps victims of human trafficking escape their situations and get back on their feet by streamlining efforts to connect them with organizations and resources across the state.
At the request of U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor, nearly $1 million will go towards the development and operation of a statewide human trafficking data repository called TIPSTR.