Which group is identified as a vulnerability in trafficking victims?

• A. Senior citizens
• B. Runaway and homeless youth
• C. Business owners
• D. College professors

Answer: (B)

Runaway and homeless youth are identified as a vulnerability because unstable housing and lack of reliable support create ripe conditions for exploitation. When young people lack a safe place to sleep, food, supervision, and trusted adults to turn to, traffickers exploit that desperation with promises of money, shelter, or belonging. Age and dependence heighten susceptibility, and the fear of stigma or contacting authorities can prevent seeking help, allowing coercive control to take hold. This combination of vulnerability factors makes youth who are on the streets or without stable homes the group most commonly recognized as at risk in trafficking scenarios. Other groups mentioned might face risks in some contexts, but the strongest, most consistently identified vulnerability in many CTIP materials is runaway and homeless youth.