BUFFALO, N.Y. — ​Project Mona's House is just one group working on putting an end to human trafficking.

The International Institute of Buffalo recently received a $665,000 grant to help expand its survivor support services program.

This is especially important in Western New York, due to the proximity to the Canadian border.

The International Institute says it served 328 survivors of human trafficking last year and it's seeing an increasing number of minors.

"They're forced to sell or carry weapons and drugs,” Amy Fleischauer, International Institute of Buffalo director of survivor support services, said. “They're forced to shoplift. Even coerced to recruit other victims as part of their trafficking. We know that those identified by this process is really only the tip of the iceberg."

The International Institute says the top five risk factors that can lead to human trafficking are recent migration or relocation to a new area, substance abuse, runaways or homeless youth, mental health concerns and involvement in the child welfare system.

If you think you see a potential case of human trafficking, you can call Crimestoppers locally or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.