Report on Seattle’s Investment in Services for Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Executive Summary

On September 12, 2025, the office of Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a new investment of $1.7 million to expand services for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). This funding is a component of the city’s comprehensive $7.5 million investment in survivor services for 2025. The initiative is designed to enhance support systems for survivors by increasing access to safe housing, healthcare, and safety planning. This report analyzes the investment’s strategic priorities and its direct contributions to achieving multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on creating a safer, more equitable, and sustainable urban environment.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The City of Seattle’s investment strategy demonstrates a strong commitment to the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The initiative directly addresses the following SDGs:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The program is fundamentally aimed at eliminating all forms of violence and exploitation against women and girls (Target 5.2) by providing survivor-centered care and supporting survivor-led and women-led organizations.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: By expanding access to medical, dental, and mental health services, including trauma-informed care and substance use disorder support, the initiative promotes physical and mental well-being for a vulnerable population (Target 3.4).
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: Funding is prioritized for organizations providing culturally responsive care to disproportionately impacted communities, including Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native survivors, thereby addressing systemic inequities (Target 10.2).
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The investment contributes to making Seattle a safer and more inclusive city by expanding access to safe, stable, and affordable transitional housing and emergency shelter (Target 11.1).
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: The initiative works to end abuse, exploitation, and trafficking (Target 16.2) and strengthens institutional frameworks through the creation of a collaborative network of service providers and public agencies.
• SDG 1: No Poverty: By providing housing, flexible financial assistance, and employment readiness support, the program addresses the economic instability that contributes to and results from exploitation (Target 1.2).

Strategic Funding Priorities

The 2025 Request for Proposal (RFP) focused on two evidence-informed strategies to maximize impact and align with the principles of survivor self-determination and harm reduction.

1. Mobile Flexible Advocacy: This approach empowers survivors by meeting them where they are, providing one-on-one support, flexible funds, and connections to medical care. This strategy directly supports SDG 3 and SDG 10 by offering accessible and culturally attuned services that remove barriers to care.
2. Shelter/Transitional Housing: This strategy focuses on expanding the availability of safe, CSE-specific housing with integrated wraparound services. This directly contributes to SDG 1 and SDG 11 by providing the foundational stability necessary for survivors to pursue long-term healing and well-being.

Analysis of Awarded Programs and Providers

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) awarded contracts to four community-based providers, selected for their ability to deliver culturally responsive, survivor-centered care.

Mobile Flexible Advocacy Awards

• Organization for Prostitution Survivors (OPS) – $868,686:
  • This funding establishes a survivor-led, Black women-led collaborative to provide culturally specific mental health care, peer support, and healing options.
  • SDG Alignment: This initiative strongly supports SDG 5 (promoting women’s leadership) and SDG 10 (empowering marginalized groups).
• Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) – $228,400:
  • SIHB will expand advocacy and integrated care for American Indian and Alaska Native survivors, utilizing a holistic model of medical, behavioral, and Traditional Indian Medicine.
  • SDG Alignment: This program is a clear example of action toward SDG 3 (integrated healthcare) and SDG 10 (reducing inequalities for Indigenous peoples).

Shelter/Transitional Housing Awards

• Real Escape from the Sex Trade (REST) – $402,914:
  • REST will increase its shelter capacity, adding emergency and 90-day beds to provide immediate safety and a pathway to long-term housing.
  • SDG Alignment: This expansion directly contributes to SDG 11 by increasing the stock of safe and specialized housing for vulnerable residents.
• Consejo Counseling and Referral Service – $200,000:
  • Consejo will enhance its transitional housing program for survivors and their families, offering bilingual, holistic support including counseling and employment readiness.
  • SDG Alignment: This program addresses SDG 1 (poverty reduction through economic empowerment) and SDG 5 by providing comprehensive support for women and their children.

Institutional Strengthening and Future Outlook

A key outcome of this investment is the formation of a new CSE Collaborative Network led by HSD. This network will include community providers, city departments, and other stakeholders to create simplified referral pathways, provide 24/7 support, and inform policy improvements. The establishment of this network is a critical step in building strong, accountable, and effective institutions, directly aligning with the objectives of SDG 16. This coordinated approach ensures that the city’s response to CSE is not only well-funded but also systematically integrated, paving the way for a more resilient and equitable system of care that supports the long-term well-being of all residents.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on a comprehensive support system for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). The key SDGs identified are:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The initiative provides funding for medical and mental health care, support for recovery from substance use disorder, and counseling, directly contributing to the physical and mental well-being of survivors.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The article’s central theme is combating commercial sexual exploitation, a form of gender-based violence. By providing services to survivors, the initiative works towards eliminating violence and exploitation, which disproportionately affects women and girls.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The program specifically prioritizes culturally responsive care and funds organizations that serve marginalized communities, such as the Seattle Indian Health Board for American Indian and Alaska Native survivors and a Black women-led collaborative. This directly addresses systemic inequities and aims to empower vulnerable populations.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: A major component of the investment is expanding safe and accessible housing. The article explicitly mentions adding “28 housing and emergency shelter beds” and funding transitional housing programs, which aligns with the goal of providing safe and adequate housing for all.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article focuses on supporting survivors of trafficking and exploitation. By creating safety plans, providing shelter, and building a responsive system of care, the initiative contributes to reducing violence and protecting victims.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the services and goals described in the article, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • The article supports this target by funding “mental health care,” “counseling and trauma-informed care,” and “therapeutic services” for survivors, directly promoting mental health and well-being.
2. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
   • The entire initiative is designed to support survivors of “commercial sexual exploitation,” “prostitution,” and “sex trafficking,” directly addressing the core issue of this target.
3. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
   • The funding of “survivor-led, Black women-led collaborative” and services for “American Indian and Alaska Native survivors” demonstrates a clear effort to empower and include marginalized groups who are disproportionately affected by CSE.
4. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
   • The article states that the funding will expand “safe CSE-specific housing,” add “28 housing and emergency shelter beds,” and strengthen a “transitional housing program,” directly contributing to this target.
5. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • The article notes that CSE exists “along a spectrum, ranging from children who are trafficked to adults,” and the services provided are aimed at helping all survivors exit exploitation, which aligns with ending trafficking and abuse.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Financial Investment: The article provides specific funding amounts, such as the “$1.7 million in new awards,” the city’s total “$7.5 million investment in survivor services in 2025,” and the fact that this represents an “83 percent increase in annual funding since 2022.” These figures serve as indicators of resource allocation towards the goals.
• Service Capacity and Reach: Progress can be measured by the increase in service capacity. The article explicitly states the funding “adds 28 housing and emergency shelter beds” and increases the “number of advocates and skilled professionals.”
• Number of People Served: The article reports “an average of 3,100 service engagements each year,” which is a direct indicator of the program’s reach and impact on the survivor community.
• Provision of Specialized Services: The existence and expansion of specific programs act as indicators. This includes “Mobile Flexible Advocacy,” “transitional housing,” “mental health counseling,” and “culturally attuned services” for specific communities like American Indian and Alaska Native survivors.
• Partnerships and Collaboration: The creation of the “new CSE Collaborative Network” involving community providers, city departments, and the police is an indicator of institutional strengthening and a coordinated response to the issue.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: harrell.seattle.gov