Human Trafficking Awareness Month: You May Be Eligible for Compensation — Free Help Is Available
- Jan 3
- 2 min read
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, a time not only to raise awareness, but to ensure survivors have access to real pathways toward restoration, justice, and financial relief.
Many people are unaware that the United States Department of Justice has established a Backpage Remission Program to compensate individuals who were sex trafficked through online advertisements hosted on Backpage.com and CityXGuide.
What is even more important to know is this:
You do not have to navigate this process alone.
You do not have to pay anyone to help you apply.
You may still be eligible even if you never reported your trafficking.
And Unmute Yourself, Inc. is here to help — at no cost.
What Is the Backpage Remission Program?
The Backpage Remission Program is a federally administered compensation process created using forfeited assets from Backpage and CityXGuide. Its purpose is to provide financial compensation to individuals who suffered monetary and/or behavioral health losses as a result of being trafficked through these platforms.
This is a legitimate U.S. Department of Justice process, and survivors are never required to pay to participate.
Who May Be Eligible?
You may qualify for compensation if you were trafficked:
Through Backpage.com between January 1, 2004 and April 6, 2018, or
Through CityXGuide between April 8, 2018 and June 19, 2020
Eligibility does not require:
Reporting your trafficking to law enforcement
Testifying in court
Identifying your trafficker
Hiring an attorney
The deadline to submit a petition is March 31, 2026.
Why Many Survivors Never Apply
Despite eligibility, many survivors do not apply because the process can feel:
Overwhelming
Confusing
Re-traumatizing
Document-heavy
Emotionally unsafe without support
Additionally, the federal remission administrator cannot assist survivors in gathering documentation — which is often the most challenging part of the process.
That gap leaves many survivors unsupported.
How Unmute Yourself, Inc. Supports Survivors
Unmute Yourself, Inc. is a survivor-centered, trauma-informed organization serving Broward County and beyond. During Human Trafficking Awareness Month and throughout the year, up until the deadline, we provide free assistance to individuals who may be eligible for the Backpage Remission Program.
Our support includes:
Helping survivors understand eligibility
Walking through the petition process step-by-step
Assisting with organizing required documentation
Providing trauma-informed guidance and referrals
Ensuring survivors are not re-exploited or scammed
We move at your pace, with confidentiality, dignity, and care.
Important Safety Reminder
Survivors should know:
No one should ever ask you to pay money to apply for this program
Requests for payment related to remission are scams
The federal administrator will not contact you unexpectedly by phone
If something feels wrong, trust that instinct — and reach out for support.
Do Not Walk This Process Alone
Human Trafficking Awareness Month is about more than awareness.
It is about access, restoration, and justice in action.
If you or someone you know believes they may be eligible for compensation through the Backpage Remission Program, start with Unmute Yourself, Inc.
📍 Unmute Yourself, Inc.
Free. Confidential. Survivor-Centered.
Amplifying Voices. Restoring Dignity. Supporting Survivors.
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