Lunchtime seminar launching research on homelessness and modern slavery, led by The Passage.
Thursday 26th March, 2026, 12-1pm.
Presentation: Dr Júlia Tomás, Human Trafficking Policy and Research Manager
Modern slavery and homelessness are closely interconnected. Survivors who emerge from exploitation have consistently reported gaps in the UK's housing system, leading to a lack of support. This in turn can cause further profound trauma. Too many survivors continue to encounter long-term barriers to securing safe and stable housing.
Despite statutory duties and contractual frameworks, housing remains a structural blind spot in the UK’s modern slavery response. When the systems built to support fall short, the consequences can be severe: instability, risk of re-exploitation, and a prolonged and turbulent journey to recovery.
As a pioneering charity that supports survivors who experience both homelessness and modern slavery, The Passage built on their existing evidence by leading a research project, funded by the Modern Slavery PEC, that focused on the experience of survivors who seek to access housing support. The project included both survivors who receive outreach-only support under the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and those who decline to enter the NRM.
In this lunchtime seminar, Dr Júlia Tomás from The Passage, who led this research, will share the findings and recommendations in the reports, with a short interview with Mila Mihaylov, a member of The Passage’s Group of Experts by Experience.
Modern Slavery PEC lunchtime seminar series
At the Modern Slavery PEC we believe in increasing the understanding of modern slavery, particularly through promoting the latest relevant evidence in a way that is accessible to everyone.
This is why we have started a series of monthly lunchtime seminars, at which modern slavery researchers can share their latest findings with a diverse audience - everyone is welcome! The format is deliberately accessible and concise: no more than 15 minutes to present, followed by questions and discussion. Each seminar will last no longer than 45 minutes (unless there are lots of questions), which we hope will fit nicely into your lunch break.
We’ll be asking researchers who present to explain their findings in plain language that non-experts can easily understand, focusing on the real-world implications of their work and potential for impact on policy or practice, and, above all, on people and communities affected by modern slavery.
The seminars are open to anyone to join – you don’t have to be a researcher yourself. We encourage everyone interested to come along.
For those who can't make it, we will record the presentations and publish them on our YouTube channel and as short podcasts.
