Houston non-profit builds emergency safe home for sex trafficking victims leading up to FIFA World Cup 2026
Houston trafficking safe home in the works ahead of World Cup
The crowds expected to come into Houston for the FIFA World Cup bring concerns of increased sex trafficking in the city as well. FOX 26's Angie Rodriguez visited a safe home that's under construction to help potential trafficking victims.
HOUSTON - With the influx of people expected to be in town during the summer for FIFA World Cup 2026, members of Elijah Rising and Eight Days of Hope plan on having a safe home ready for trafficking victims by the first week of March. Members of Elijah Rising say they hope the emergency safe home built isn't full during the matches held in the city, but realistically say it will probably be packed.
Emergency safe house for trafficking victim
What they're saying:
Elijah Rising partnered together with Eight Days of Hope to create the Emergency Safe Home.
Eight Days of Hope started construction on February 16th and plan on taking about two weeks to complete the work.
Once the Emergency Safe Home is complete, it will have four rooms available, each with two twin beds. This means that a total of eight victims can be sheltered during an emergency.
The safe home will be furnished and have a kitchen and common area for victims to feel more ‘at home’, according to Elijah Rising.
Other anti-trafficking plans
Dig deeper:
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee published the first version of their Human Rights Action Plan, where they explain what prevention measures they have in place regarding a possible spike in sex trafficking during the matches being held in Houston.
Houston World Cup committee targeting potential human trafficking
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host committee previewed their Human Rights Action Plan, in which they explain how they plan on preventing issues like human and labor trafficking. FOX 26's Angie Rodriguez spoke to a committee member about the initiative.
The plan focuses on three primary pillars: Inclusion and Safeguarding, Workers' Rights, and Access to Remedy.
In partnership with A21, the committee offers 35-minute training sessions for the hospitality, transportation, and volunteer sectors to identify and prevent trafficking.
Specific training is provided to ensure staff and volunteers can support fans with disabilities, and a campaign running from May to July 2026 will raise awareness about gender-based violence and buyer awareness.
Houston organizations raise awareness of human trafficking ahead of FIFA World Cup
On Monday morning, organizations in the Houston area gathered outside of Houston City Hall to talk about human trafficking in the city.
Resources
What you can do:
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, there are several options to seek help.
The Source: Elijah Rising, Eight Days of Hope, FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee