Human trafficking is a much larger problem in Utah, and in Summit County, than most people realize.
Last year, the Asian Association of Utah served over 1,400 human trafficking survivors statewide, including more than 35 survivors from Summit County alone. Behind Park City's thriving hotels, restaurants, and ski resorts are vulnerable workers being exploited with few avenues for help. Park City's booming tourism economy drives significant demand in hospitality and restaurant industries—two sectors most heavily associated with labor trafficking nationally. For many of these workers, AAU is the only place they can turn.
One of our staff members recently heard from a client:
"I am so glad I get to work with you. I feel so seen and cared about. I know you will always try to help me."
That is the work. And it starts long before self-sufficiency and long after the crisis is over.
Utah ranked 11th among states with the highest number of per capita human trafficking victims between 2019 and 2023. Human trafficking doesn't happen in the shadows, it happens in restaurants, hotels, construction sites, and neighborhoods across all 29 Utah counties, including in Summit County.
Each year, law enforcement and attorneys across the state refer over 1,000 victims to AAU from trafficking operations. When a survivor is referred, AAU receives them directly, providing emergency shelter, food, clothing, and immediate care before developing an individualized service plan to support their journey toward recovery and self-sufficiency. The benefit extends beyond the survivor: when victims receive comprehensive support, communities are stronger, safer, and more resilient.
AAU is the only organization in Utah focused specifically on labor trafficking victims and the need is increasing.
When a survivor arrives, they often have nothing: no housing, no income, no safety net, and significant trauma. Our team meets them there and stays.
Last year, our Human Trafficking Support team provided over 21,000 sessions of case management services, distributed $476,000 in rental assistance, and provided transitional housing to 67 survivors. At our weekly Drop-In Center in Salt Lake City, nearly 700 unique survivors accessed food, clothing, medical care, harm reduction services, bus passes, and crisis case management, close to 2,000 total visits with over 7,500 services provided. For survivors who are ready, our Economic Empowerment program offers financial literacy, resume building, career coaching, and job placement support.
Despite our growth, hundreds of survivors currently wait for full case management services. Federal resources for trafficking victim services are increasingly unstable. In Summit County specifically, the combination of a transient workforce, high-demand service industries, and limited local resources creates conditions where exploitation can thrive and where survivors have nowhere to turn without AAU.
Your partnership helps us continue these vital services.
AAU is participating in Live PC Give PC, and your gift directly sustains our Human Trafficking Support programs: emergency care, case management, housing assistance, drop-in center services, economic empowerment, and recovery support for survivors across Utah and Summit County.
Every contribution is tax-deductible and goes directly toward helping survivors move from crisis to thriving.
Make your gift here: https://www.livepcgivepc.org/organization/aau-slc
The Asian Association of Utah holds the Platinum Transparency Seal from Candid, top 1% of nonprofits nationwide for transparency and accountability. Founded in 1977, AAU serves refugees, refugee youth, and human trafficking survivors across Utah.
