Challenges in Rural & Urban Settings

Challenges in Rural and Urban Settings

Support services and accessing support for survivors of human trafficking can vary by location, with unique challenges in rural areas (remote regions and small towns) and urban centres (cities like Montreal and Vancouver). Understanding these differences helps Networks of Care recognize the barriers and experiences survivors face based on where they live.

Rural Settings

• Access to Services: Rural settings have limited access to services such as healthcare, legal, and counselling or require people to travel long distances to access these.

• Transportation Barriers: People often have to travel longer distances in rural areas to get to where they need. This requires access to a vehicle as these areas often lack public transit. This can isolate people or make it hard to access the services they need if they do not own a car.

• Community Dynamics: small towns and rural areas are often tight-knit communities where people know each other. Survivors can face judgment and privacy concerns, making them reluctant to seek help locally.

Urban Settings

• Isolation: Larger cities can create a sense of isolation, especially for people who are new or do not have family in the city. It can be overwhelming and make it difficult to create bonds with people and a sense of community.

• Overwhelmed Service Systems: Larger populations will have more people who need support services. People working in these systems are often overworked and burnt out, leading to support services that are not as effective.

• Cost of Living: Urban areas usually have higher costs of living compared to smaller towns and rural communities. A survivor may not have funds to cover expenses related to mental health supports, childcare, or transportation to appointments.