Webinars
UPCOMING shelter transformation webinars
To join our webinars, you must register for each through the links provided. The webinars are free and will be recorded and posted to this page.
Many shelters are becoming more housing-focused yet racial inequities in who successfully exits shelter to housing persist. Black people experiencing homelessness continue to face greater barriers when trying to secure housing, including systemic racism, discrimination from landlords, and inequitable access to supports.
In this session, Dr. Prentiss Dantzler will unpack how anti-black racism shows up in housing systems and explore what shelters can do to change outcomes. Drawing on research, lived experience and real-world examples, Dr. Dantzler will help attendees identify how shelter practices and partnerships can be reimagined to advance equity and ensure that being ‘housing-focused’ also means being equity-focused.
Previous Shelter Transformation Webinars
PAW-LICY CHANGE: WHAT IT TAKES TO GO PET-FRIENDLY
December 16, 2025
Many people experiencing homelessness face a difficult choice: access shelter or stay with their pet. For many, their animal is a lifeline: a source of comfort, safety, and unconditional support. Yet most shelter systems were not designed with pets in mind. Moving toward pet-friendly operations can open doors, improve access, and strengthen housing outcomes, but it also requires thoughtful planning across policies, facilities, staffing, and partnerships.
Whether your shelter is just exploring the idea of becoming pet-friendly or ready to make the shift, this session will share lessons learned, highlight common challenges, and outline concrete steps you can take to move forward.
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
MANAAJI’IDIWIN (RESPECT) – EMBEDDING CULTURALLY SAFE PRACTICES IN SHELTERS
November 26, 2025
As the second part of a two-part webinar series, this session explores ways to deepen our understanding, strengthen practice, and walk together toward culturally safe, respectful, and effective shelter services for Indigenous shelter guests.
Building on the insights from October’s webinar (Part 1 of the series), this second session focused on practical ways to integrate culturally safe, respectful, and effective supports for Indigenous shelter guests. Attendees gained tools for embedding Indigenous cultural practices, building strong community partnerships, and aligning shelter operations with reconciliation frameworks.
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
DEBWEWIN (TRUTH) – UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEMIC ROOTS OF INDIGENOUS HOMELESSNESS
October 22, 2025
As the first part of a two-part webinar series, this session explores how Indigenous homelessness is not simply a housing issue. It is the result of generations of systemic displacement, cultural erasure, and discriminatory policies. This session examines the historical and current colonial systems that shape Indigenous experiences of homelessness, with a focus on how these factors influence access to – and experiences within – emergency shelters.
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
REGULATE, RELATE, REHOUSE: DBT-INSPIRED SKILLS FOR FRONTLINE SHELTER WORK
September 25, 2025
Too often, the daily interactions between shelter staff and guests are dominated by crisis management, behavioural oversight, or enforcing rules – leaving little space for meaningful, housing-focused engagement. This webinar invites shelter staff and managers to explore a different approach: one that centres supportive, forward-looking conversations that help shelter guests move closer to exiting homelessness and into permanent housing
Drawing from core concepts in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), this session will introduce practical, informal ways to weave DBT-based skills into day-to-day conversations with shelter guests. Participants will learn how to shift from policing behaviours to fostering emotional regulation, building trust, and co-creating action steps that support housing goals.
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
Whitney Kitchen, Housing First Supervisor – City of Windsor
HOLDING THE LINE WITH HEART: TRAUMA-INFORMED DE-ESCALATION IN SHELTERS
July 30, 2025
Staff in emergency shelters regularly navigate high-stress situations where tensions can escalate quickly. This webinar offers practical, trauma-informed strategies for recognizing early signs of agitation, responding to escalating behaviours, and maintaining safety for both shelter staff and guests. Participants will explore real-world scenarios, reflect on the impact of power dynamics and triggers, and learn how to respond with empathy, clarity, and confidence.
Whether you’re new to shelter work or a seasoned staff member looking to refresh your skills, this session will strengthen your ability to de-escalate conflict while preserving dignity and building trust – even in the most challenging moments.
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
Jon DeCarmine, Principal Consultant – OrgCode Consulting, Inc.
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE: BUILDING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR SHELTERS
June 25, 2025
In a time when public opinion is shaping policy, funding, and neighbourhood support, the local community and media narrative about your shelter matters more than ever. This practical and empowering webinar is designed specifically for shelter providers who want to strengthen their local media presence, shift public perception, and tell a more accurate, human-centered story about the work they do.
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
HOUSING-FOCUSED IN A HOUSING CRISIS: HOW SHELTER GUESTS AND STAFF CAN BE GREAT HOUSING FINDERS
May 28, 2025
We’re in the middle of a housing crisis – units are limited, rents are rising, and barriers are high. But that’s exactly why shelters must double down on re-housing efforts and get creative. This webinar focuses on practical, actionable strategies that shelter staff can use to support faster, more effective housing placements, even in today’s tough market.
We’ll explore how to engage shelter guests as active participants in their own housing search, involve all staff—not just case managers—in everyday housing-focused work, and build a strong system for identifying, approaching, and retaining landlords. You’ll hear real examples from shelter staff that have embraced a housing-focused model and learn how to apply simple but powerful changes to your own setting.
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
CHANGE IS HARD, LEADERSHIP MAKES IT EASIER: LEADING STAFF AND GUESTS THROUGH SHELTER TRANSFORMATION
April 30, 2025
As shelters shift towards a more housing-focused and lower-barrier model, leadership plays a crucial role in guiding this transformation. Organizational change is essential to better meet the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness, but equally critical is managing that change effectively to ensure the support of shelter staff, guests and organizational health.
This session will explore leadership strategies for fostering a culture of adaptability, addressing staff concerns, and maintaining alignment with the organization’s mission.
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
OPEN DOORS, TOUGH CALLS: NAVIGATING ACCESS RESTRICTIONS IN LOW-BARRIER SHELTERS
March 26, 2025
Low-barrier shelters aim to reduce obstacles to entry, ensuring vulnerable populations can access safe and stable housing. However, navigating access restrictions – whether due to safety concerns, legal requirements, or resource limitations – requires careful consideration to balance inclusivity with operational feasibility. In this session, attendees will gain insights from shelter providers how to navigate the balance between access and safety.
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
HELPING WITHOUT PUSHING: USING MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING IN A SHELTER SETTING
February 26, 2025
This webinar explores the fundamentals of Motivational Interviewing – an approach to guiding conversations that inspire change. With a special focus on engaging shelter guests who are still contemplating their next steps, this session will introduce you to practical concepts that will help shelter guests on their re-housing journey.
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
WHY DATA MATTERS: THE POWER OF DATA IN ELEVATING EMERGENCY SHELTER PERFORMANCE
January 29, 2025
IMPRESSIONS OF SAFETY AND POTENTIAL BARRIERS TO ADDRESS
December 18, 2024
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
Jasmine Clark from Optimism Place Women’s Shelter and Support Services (Stratford, ON), Brian Elliot from the INN (St. Thomas-Elgin, ON) and Jamil Mahmood from Main Street Project (Winnipeg, MB)
BY-NAME DATA, COORDINATED ENTRY & GETTING SHELTER GUESTS ‘DOCUMENT READY’
November 27, 2024
By-Name Data and Coordinated Entry are vital components to any system that aims to end homelessness. This webinar will provide an introduction to these components and addresses the important link between them and emergency shelter providers.
Recording HERE
Presentation Slides: HERE
Presentation by:
Kevin Webb, Director of Emergency Shelter & Housing – The Calgary Drop-In Centre (Calgary)
SELF-DIRECTED AND STAFF INVOLVED RAPID RESOLUTION
October 23, 2024
Kristin Kennedy & Lindsay Enns, Manager and Supervisor of Transition Services – Siloam Mission (Winnipeg)
Emilia Daka-Siwale, Diversion Coordinator – The Calgary Drop-In Centre (Calgary)
DESIGNING DIVERSION AND INTAKE FOR YOUR SHELTER
September 25, 2024
This webinar defines and differentiates between prevention, diversion and intake services. Presenters will explain each element and outline effective approaches of implementation.
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
Amanda Brierley, Manager of Shelter Services – Kingston HomeBase Non-Profit Housing Inc.
Michael Lethby, Executive Director – The RAFT
Service Orientation considerations in shelter
August 28, 2024
This is a non-clinical introduction to the very specific service orientation that underpins the work, informs the engagement between staff and shelter guests, and frame the overall philosophy of service in the shelter. The service orientation encompasses: 1) Harm Reduction, 2) Trauma-Informed Care, 3) Culturally Appropriate & Safe Service, and 4) Person-Centred Care, 5) Compassion and 6) Assertive Outreach.
Recording HERE
Presentation by:
Tessa Blaikie-Whitehead, CEO – Siloam Mission
Grant Martin, Network Coordinator – CSTN
ROLE OF A LOW-BARRIER, HOUSING-FOCUSED SHELTER & THE KEY ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE SHELTERS: aN INTRODUCTION
July 31, 2024
As part of an ongoing webinar series, in this initial session attendees will be provided with an overview of the role of emergency shelters, an introductory definition of low-barrier housing focused shelters, and a review of the 5 key elements of being an effective shelter.
Recording CLICK HERE
Presentation by:
Grant Martin, CSTN Network Coordinator
updated guidelines to a Low-Barrier, Housing-Focused Shelter
September 16, 2022
The Canadian Shelter Transformation Network is pleased to release an updated Introduction to Low-Barrier, Housing-Focused Shelter resource.
Iain De Jong, the author of the updated resource, shares the core elements of Low-Barrier, Housing-Focused Shelter and what has been expanded and modified in this new resource.
Recording CLICK HERE
Canadian Transformed Shelters
February 12, 2021
Recording CLICK HERE
Presentations by:
Kevin Webb, Calgary Drop-In Centre – Presentation (PDF)
Shawn MacKeigan, Mission Services Hamilton – Presentation (PDF)
US Transformed Shelters
February 4, 2021
Recording CLICK HERE
What Funders and Program Monitors Need to Know about Housing Focused Shelter
December 3, 2020
Recording CLICK HERE
Dealing with Resistance in Being a Housing Focused Shelter
November 10, 2020
Recording CLICK HERE
Harm Reduction and Housing Focused Shelter
October 22, 2020
Recording CLICK HERE
Trauma Informed Housing Focused Shelter
September 17, 2020
Recording CLICK HERE
Creating a housing-focus with longer-term and repeat shelter guests
October 29, 2019
Recording CLICK HERE
Maintaining a housing focus with first time shelter guests
October 8th, 2019
Recording CLICK HERE
Setting Expectations Instead of Rules
September 30, 2019
Recording CLICK HERE
Introduction to Shelter Diversion
August 28, 2019
Recording CLICK HERE
Iain’s presentation INTRODUCTION TO SHELTER DIVERSION