CHICAGO – To uplift and support survivors of human trafficking and related crimes, state Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, recently supported a new law that will allow survivors to apply for and receive public benefits.
“It is critical that we make a commitment to support people who have survived these horrible crimes,” said Slaughter. “To ensure that survivors are not being left behind, we must assist them and get them the resources that they need.”
The Slaughter-backed Senate Bill 506 passed both chambers of the General Assembly with widespread bipartisan support and was recently signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. This legislation ensures the continuation of the Survivor Support and Trafficking Prevention Program to provide certain benefits to survivors. The program allows non-citizens who experienced torture, human trafficking and other serious crimes access to health care and food assistance from public benefits programs.
“These survivors are people who ended up in our country through no fault of their own and may have no other avenues to receive support,” said Slaughter. “It is our duty to care for them while they’re here, and I am proud of the General Assembly for passing this law and continuing the fight against human trafficking.”