Resources
The CSTN will share resources, research and toolkits to align strategies, best practices and develop a community of practice that supports the transformation of shelters across Canada to become housing focused.
(Check back here as we will update this page regularly.)
CSTN Shelter Transformation Manual & Self-Assessment
OrgCode Emergency Shelter Resources and Blogs
Documents on Shelter
- Housing Focused Sheltering (Nov. 2017)
- Housing-Focused Shelter Sample Daily Operating Policies and Procedures
Blogs on Shelter
- Service Restrictions and Barring in Shelters (Mar. 2019)
- Staff Change as the Shelter Changes (Feb. 2019)
- 8 Tips to Add More Harm Reduction Practices to Your Shelter (Nov. 2018)
- So You Think You are a Low Barrier Shelter… Let’s Check (Sept. 2018)
- 1 Needs 6 (Feb. 2018)
- Unique Individuals and Length of Stay (Jan. 2018)
- Housing Focused Shelter (Dec. 2017)
- Car Dealerships and Homeless Facilities (Sept. 2017)
- Signs of a Bad Shelter Proposal (Feb. 2017)
- 10 Critical Questions for Every Shelter and Shelter System (Feb. 2017)
- Designing an Amazing Shelter (July 2016)
National Alliance to End Homelessness Emergency Shelter Learning Series
- NAEH Website (with all resources below)
Blog
- Would Adding More Emergency Shelter Help Reduce Unsheltered Homelessness? Its Complicated… (Aug. 2018)
- To Address Unsheltered Homelessness, Shelter and Housing Must Be Connected (July 2018)
Webinars & Tools
Overview & Self-Assessments and Action Plans
- The Role of Emergency Shelter in a Crisis Response System (webinar – 55 min) Download slides and tools:
- Self-Assessment Online Survey – follow-up action plans:
- System Role Self-Assessment and Action Plan
- Housing First Self-Assessment and Action Plan
- Diversion Self-Assessment and Action Plan
- Low-Barrier Self-Assessment and Action Plan
- Housing-focused and Rapid Exit Services Self-Assessment and Action Plan
- Using our Data Self-Assessment and Action Plan
Low Barrier Shelters
- Low Barrier Shelter Videos – Four 2-min videos (2018)
- The Keys to Effective Low-Barrier Emergency Shelters (webinar -55 min) Download slides
- How to Transition Your Shelter to Low-Barrier and Housing-Focused (webinar – 90 min) Download slides
- Frequently Asked Questions for Low-Barrier Shelters (webinar – 90 min) Download slides
- Rules and Safety in Serving Adults in Low-Barrier Shelters (webinar – 90 min) Download slides
- 10 Steps to Evaluating Your Shelter Rules
- Changing Punitive Shelter Rules to Simple Community Expectations (Blog – Feb. 2018)
- Getting Your Board on Board with Low-Barrier, Housing-Focused Shelter (webinar – 60 min) Download Slides and tools:
- How to Get Your Board Ready for the Shift to Low-Barrier, Housing-Focused Shelter Guide
Role of Emergency Shelter in Diversion
- Role of Emergency Shelter in Diversion (webinar – 90 min) Download Slides and tools:
- Key Takeaways: The Role of Emergency Shelter in Diversion
- Diversion Self-Assessment Action Plan
Safety Serving Families and Victims of Domestic Violence
- Safely Serving Families and Victims of Domestic Violence (webinar – 90 min) Download slides
Using Data
- Using Data to Evaluate and Improve (90 min) Download slides and tools:
- Using our Data Self-Assessment and Action Plan
- Shelter Outcome Metrics Form
Equal Access
- HUD’s Equal Access Rule (webinar – 90 min) Download slides and tools:
- Equal Access Self-Assessment for Shelters and Housing Projects
- Equal Access Decision Tree: Supporting Equal Access Across the Full Spectrum of Services
- Equal Access for Transgender People Supporting Inclusive Housing and Shelter
- Equal Access Expectations Training Scenarios
Pet Friendly
- How to Become Pet Friendly (webinar – 60 min) Download slides and tools:
- Ten Lessons from the Field on Operating Pet-Friendly Shelter
- Sample Guidelines for Emergency Shelters that Welcome Service/Emotional Support and Other Animals
- Pets Can Be an Open Door to Ending An Individual’s Homelessness ( Blog – Nov. 2018)
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness – Shelter Resources
- Low Barrier Emergency Shelter Podcast (USICH, 2019) – 11 mins
- Implementing Effective Emergency Shelter Checklist (USICH, 2018) – 2 pages
- Emergency Shelter Key Considerations (USICH, 2017) – 10 pages with links to other resources
Diversion Information, Tools and Community Examples
- See Diversion information and resources on the Built for Zero Canada website
National Health Care for the Homeless Council – Health in Shelters
- Shelter-Based Care for Homeless Populations (2018) – innovative shelter-based health care programs
- Making the Connection: Improving the Relationship Between Shelters and Health Centers – webinar (2018) – Watch the Recording & View Slides (PDF)
- Shelter Health: Opportunities for Health Care for the Homeless Projects (2016) – issue brief identifies certain health issues that can be particularly affected by shelter conditions and identifies opportunities for health centers to be engaged in local efforts to improve shelter health.
- Health in Shelters (2006) PowerPoint presentation by Bob Donovan, MD, Cincinnati Health Network, Inc. Focuses on communicable diseases and general prevention measures.
- Shelters and TB: What Staff Need to Know, Second Edition (2013) – the Curry International Tuberculosis Center video and viewer’s guide.
- Pandemic Influenza Guidance for Homeless Shelters & Homeless Service Providers (2009) This practical manual is for homeless shelters and other service providers as they plan for and respond to the special needs of homeless individuals during the influenza season.
Domestic and Sexual Violence – Emergency Shelter Considerations
- Safely Serving Families and Victims of Domestic Violence (NAEH 2018 webinar – 90 min) Download slides
- Safety Planning for Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence: A Toolkit for Housing Programs (NASH, 2018)
- Safe Housing Partnerships– the website for the Domestic Violence and Housing Technical Assistance Consortium. Find useful resources and tools that advance your work at the critical intersection of domestic violence, sexual assault, homelessness, and housing.
- Housing, Homelessness and Violence Against Women (Women’s Shelters Canada, 2017)
- Trauma and Violence Informed Care (TVIC): An Orientation Tool for Service Providers in the Homeless Sector (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2019)
- Gender Integrated Shelters: Experience and Advice (FORGE, 2016)
- Safety and Privacy Consideration When Using Hotels for Shelter Stays (NNEDV, 2013)
- See also, Partnering with Other Systems – Domestic Violence
Pets and Shelters
- How to Become Pet Friendly (webinar – 60 min) Download slides and tools:
- Ten Lessons from the Field on Operating Pet-Friendly Shelter
- Sample Guidelines for Emergency Shelters that Welcome Service/Emotional Support and Other Animals
- Pets Can Be an Open Door to Ending An Individual’s Homelessness ( Blog – Nov. 2018)
- Toronto Pet Services for Homeless Shelters (City of Toronto website)
- Pets and Sheltering Guidelines During COVID-19 (Co-sheltering Collaborative website)
Emergency Shelter Frameworks and Standards Examples
Emergency Shelter Bright Spots, Books and Other Resources
- Calgary Drop-In Center Bright Spot (CAEH, 2019)
- Beyond Shelters – CAEH Blog on new book by James Lorimer & Co (2018)
- Harm Reduction and Shelters: A Jurisdictional Scan of Harm Reduction Initiatives In Canadian Shelters (2018)
- How Our Shelter Began Focusing on Permanent Housing and Started Ending Homelessness for Our Clients (2014) – describes how one shelter run by Northern Virginia Family Service shifted to a housing-focused model.
Ending Homelessness for People in Encampments
Considerations and Tools to Respond Effectively
- Encampments Webinar Series (hosted by CAEH and presented by Orgcode, Fall 2020)
- Tent City: How to Respond Effectively OrgCode blog (April 2016)
- Ending Homelessness for People Living in Encampments: Advancing the Dialogue (USICH, 2015) – report and materials designed to assist communities in developing an action plan that will link people experiencing homelessness and living in an encampment, with permanent housing opportunities:
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- Ending Homelessness for People Living in Encampments: Advancing the Dialogue Report
- Ending Homelessness for People Living in Encampments: Quick Guide
- Ending Homelessness for People Living in Encampments: Planning Checklist
Sample US Approaches to Encampment Resolution
- Approaches to Encampment Resolution – presentations from 3 US Communities at the NAEH Solutions to Individual Homeless Conference (Feb 2019)
- Case Studies: Ending Homelessness for People Living in Encampments (USICH, 2018) – six case studies
Sample Canadian Approaches to Encampment Resolution
- Toronto Interdepartmental Protocol for Homeless People Camping in Public Spaces
- Edmonton Homelessness on Public Lands Initiative (2017)
- Coordinated Response to Homeless Encampments Template – blank sample Word document from a Canadian community that you can download, customize and complete
Cautions When Considering Sanctioned Encampments
- Caution is Needed When Considering “Sanctioned Encampments” or “Safe Zones” USICH blog (2018)
- A Move Towards Ohana Zones? OrgCode blog (April 2018)
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Winter Sheltering and Cold Weather Response Plans
This is a new section, currently under development. If you have additional resources to add, please contact marie@caeh.ca.
us hud resources for winter sheltering and cold weather response (Generally and during covid)
- Winter Planning Guide Overview: Meeting Winter Shelter Needs and Mitigating Health Risks – helps communities engage critical partners, project winter sheltering capacity needs, create a Winter Emergency Plan to meet escalating levels of shelter demand and consider alternative approaches to winter sheltering, and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in winter shelter facilities.
- How to Complete the Winter Emergency Plan Planning Guide and Template – guides communities through identifying resources needed to effectively respond to three levels of escalating winter sheltering needs.
- Alternative Approaches to Winter Sheltering During COVID-19 – provides a graduated approach to sheltering from life-threatening temperatures and regular seasonal weather.
- Winter Response Activation and Communications Planning Guide and Template – provides a set of key decision points to help communities define what triggers a winter emergency response and how weather alerts are communicated to key stakeholders.
- COVID-19 Preparedness Checklist for Shelter Facilities – provides a series of checklists designed to help providers implement strategies for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in winter facilities.
guidance on staying housing FOCUSED regarding winter sheltering and cold weather response
- Saint John NB Housing Focused Winter Response (CAEH Blog, 2019)
Sample canadian cold weather response plans from communities
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- Edmonton Homeward Trust – Winter Emergency Response (2019)
- End Homelessness Winnipeg – Extreme Cold Weather Response Plan (2019)
- Guelph-Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination – Community Cold Weather Response (2019)
- City of Toronto Fact Sheet: Emergency Shelter System and Winter Services Plan for People Experiencing Homelessness (2019)