{"id":3028,"date":"2020-07-24T22:48:01","date_gmt":"2020-07-24T22:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ca\/britishcolumbia\/financial-freedom\/"},"modified":"2025-05-26T11:23:50","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T11:23:50","slug":"financial-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ca\/britishcolumbia\/2020\/07\/24\/financial-freedom\/","title":{"rendered":"Financial Freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"

Financial Freedom<\/strong><\/p>\n

For most people, opening a bank account is as simple as going online or making an appointment at the nearest branch. But for a person without government identification or a permanent address, doing so may be impossible. That\u2019s the situation many survivors face when they escape human trafficking. With a new financial access project, we hope to change that.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are some key barriers that make it difficult for survivors to re-engage in financial services, which puts them at risk for being trafficked again.\u201d
\n<\/em>Larissa Maxwell, The Salvation Army, Director of Anti-Human Trafficking Programs<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Supporting Survivors <\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2016 worldwide, more than 40 million men, women and children were trapped in modern slavery and Canada is not immune. \u201cWe serve up to 700 survivors every year,\u201d says Larissa Maxwell, Director of Anti-Human Trafficking Programs, The Salvation Army B.C. Division, \u201cwe\u2019re the largest service provider in Canada, in terms of supporting survivors of human trafficking.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that cross-country reach and expertise in the field our Anti-Human Trafficking program was approached to take part in the Financial Access Project (FAP), an initiative of the United Nations\u2019 Financial Sector Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.<\/p>\n

Taking Back Control <\/strong><\/p>\n

After signing on to take part in the pilot project, Maxwell began by putting together a consultation group of more than 20 survivors. Those consultations were revealing. One survivor shared that she\u2019d never learned how to use an ATM \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was given a card but didn\u2019t know how to withdraw money.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Maxwell was moved by the hopes and dreams they shared. \u201cOne survivor said that her biggest goal was to save for her children\u2019s education\u2014children she had lost custody of because she was trafficked,\u201d Maxwell notes. \u201cSurvivors\u2019 financial goals are similar to other people\u2019s goals, except many of them face quite a few barriers to reach them.\u201d That list of barriers can be long – when they escape their traffickers, survivors usually do not have proper identification or a permanent address to give a financial institution. They often have debts\u2014typically racked up by their trafficker\u2014and some have a criminal record.<\/p>\n

Best Practices <\/strong><\/p>\n

Once barriers were identified, we partnered with Scotiabank to begin eliminating some of them. Scotiabank was able to develop different methods that would allow survivors with identification constraints to open accounts. \u201cWe also provided financial literacy as part of the onboarding experience,\u201d notes Gilberto Cedolia, Scotiabank, Office of Financial Crimes Risk Management. \u201cEvery survivor has a different background, so the onboarding was tailored to each individual.\u201d<\/p>\n

In September 2019, Maxwell and Stuart Davis, Scotiabank, Global Head Financial Crimes Risk Management and Group Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer, were invited to present on the pilot project to the U.N. in New York City. While there, Maxwell also gave a presentation on eradicating modern-day slavery. \u201cWe received a flood of requests to consult with American financial institutions to help them develop similar projects,\u201d says Maxwell.<\/p>\n

Shining Light <\/strong><\/p>\n

During the pilot phase, four survivors participated in the FAP. \u201cThe survivors who went through the pilot told me it was the best experience they\u2019d had with any institution\u2014not just financial,\u201d Maxwell shares.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis program is a shining light down a long dark tunnel for me\u201d
\nHuman trafficking survivor<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Scotiabank is now moving to make the FAP a permanent initiative and we are looking forward to working together to establish that.<\/p>\n

Going forward, Maxwell\u2019s goal is to make the program available to every survivor The Salvation Army supports, to set up a national referral system, and to bring all financial institutions across Canada on board. \u201cFor survivors to be able to stand on their own two feet financially\u2014that is one of the strongest safeguards against trafficking, abuse and exploitation,\u201d she concludes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To learn more about our anti-human trafficking programs and how you can help visit deborahsgate.ca<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Financial Freedom For most people, opening a bank account is as simple as going online or making an appointment at the nearest branch. But for a person without government identification or a permanent address, doing so may be impossible. That\u2019s the situation many survivors face when they escape human trafficking. 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