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Publication Date: 2020
While some progress has been made in addressing chronic homelessness through supportive models, a comprehensive solution for housing loss must include prevention. The purpose of this article is twofold: to conduct a review of the literature on the domains of the Framework for Homelessness Prevention; and to use literature on the concept of quaternary prevention, preventing the harms of service provision, to theorise an additional domain. The Fram...
Organization: BC Centre on Substance Use
Publication Date: 2020
On March 11, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19, caused by a novel coronavirus, a pandemic, citing concern over alarming levels of spread and severity across the globe. In British Columbia, a public health emergency due to COVID-19 was declared on March 17, 2020. British Columbia is in a unique situation, with the current crisis compounding an existing public health emergency declared in April 2016, due to escalating opioid overdoses...
Publication Date: 2020
This document offers guidance for safety, scarcity of supplies, and special considerations for street medicine teams caring for rough sleepers.
Organization: University of Calgary
Publication Date: 2020
The pandemic is forcing Canadians to re-examine civil society’s place in addressing social problems. This presents a good time to probe where the line between government and civil society ought to be drawn. Civil society is understood as the cumulative actions of people, community groups, labour unions, social movements and other groups pursuing a common good outside of the state or market.
As the province of Alberta comes to grips with COVID-19’...
Organization: Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness
Publication Date: 2020
This handy one pager provides links to resources on the types of PPE required during COVID-19, how to properly use PPE, where to source PPE, and how to manage and conserve PPE.
Organization: Egale Canada
Publication Date: 2020
The LGBTQI2S community is 1.5x more likely to have depression and anxiety compared to the general population, which puts them at greater risk during COVID-19. This tip sheet can be used by service providers, and includes a number of safe space online counselling resources.
Organization: University of Pennsylvania, University of California, Boston University
Publication Date: 2020
This study models potential scenarios of COVID-19 severity, hospitalization and fatality among homeless populations, and estimates additional homeless system capacity required to manage the acute impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the existing homeless population.
Organization: UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing
Publication Date: 2020
As COVID-19 shines a light on the crisis of homelessness in Canada, the plight of those living in homeless encampments has emerged as an urgent issue. This Protocol outlines eight Principles to guide governments and other stakeholders in adopting a rights-based response.
Organization: Egale, INNOVATION Research Group
Publication Date: 2020
LGBTQI2S communities continue to be among the most vulnerable in Canada. During this time of uncertainty amid a global pandemic, supporting LGBTQI2S communities continues to be more important than ever. From barriers to accessing healthcare and mental health services to facing higher rates of homelessness, poverty, and social isolation — one thing is evident, this community needs support now more than ever.
This reports presents data from a surve...
Sheltering risks: Implementation of harm reduction in homeless shelters during an overdose emergency
Publication Date: 2017
Background: The current opioid overdose crisis in North America is heightening awareness of the need for and the challenges of implementing harm reduction, notably within complex and diverse settings such as homeless shelters. In this paper, we explore the implementation of harm reduction in homeless shelters during an emerging overdose emergency. Methods: The objective of this qualitative study was to identify and understand micro-environment le...
Publication Date: 2018
Background: Substance use and homelessness often overlap. Harm reduction is an evidence-based response to reducing harms of use rather than preventing use per se. While harm reduction is a key principle of Housing First, there has been limited research related to the implementation of harm reduction within programmes that aim to end homelessness.
Methods: As part of a community-based research study, we conducted 29 qualitative interviews with sta...
Organization: Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH), Inner City Health Associates
Publication Date: 2020
This guide is for frontline social service and healthcare workers (shelter workers, case workers, RNs, PSWs), focusing on unique palliative care needs of people experiencing homelessness during the COVID19 pandemic.
Publication Date: 2020
The COVID-19 crisis is disproportionately affecting people that are precariously housed, homeless, and/or lack access to hygiene and space for physical distancing. For young people, access to stable housing and supports to cope during and after the crisis are essential. Meeting basic needs, navigating the housing and income support systems, staying connected to education/training, and receiving mental health supports are ongoing priorities for yo...
Publication Date: 2020
This documents from the United Nations outlines the fundamental principles countries should use to guide local and national efforts to protect the safety and well-being of those living with substance use disorders during COVID-19.
Organization: National Centre on Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health
Publication Date: 2020
This two-page tip sheet was created for folks supporting survivors of domestic violence during COVID-19. Topics include how to support survivors through medication access, community recovery groups, overdose prevention, and more.
Publisher: Wilfred Laurier University Press
Publication Date: 2018
Youth are one of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population. Although there has been much research on how youth become homeless and survive on the streets, we know very little about their pathways off the street and the many challenges that present during this process.
This book relates the lived experiences of homeless youth as they negotiate the individual, sociocultural, and economic tensions of transitioning out of homeless and s...
Publication Date: 2020
With policy updates released daily, it can be challenging to navigate the current information available on provincial and territorial supports individuals facing challenges paying rent can access due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This comprehensive and easy to read list is a great tool to review the various federal emergency funds offered.
Publication Date: 2020
This printable easy-to-read tip sheet includes harm reduction tips and safer drug use practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. This resource is appropriate to give directly to service users to use a reference.
Publication Date: 2020
This pandemic illustrates, as starkly as ever, that housing is health care and helping people become permanently housed will continue to be critically important (see You Can’t Stay Home, If You Don’t Have a Home and Homelessness Is a Public Health Emergency). Given requirements for social distancing, this may seem challenging – but it’s possible and its happening! Find tips below for continuing to support people to find and move into permanent ho...
Publication Date: 2020
Women's Shelter Canada has compiled a list of resources and practices being used by organizations who support women living in shelters and transition houses across Canada to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The content is divided into the following themes:
• Pandemic policies for shelters
• Communicating with the community
• Maintaining services and programs for clients
• Cleaning and sanitation
• Client and staff health
• Reductions in staffing...