The initial review involved a range of data collection methods to gather information, including:
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Data and background document review
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Interviews with City staff (5 participants)
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Interviews with shelter service providers (6 interviews with 13 participants)
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Interviews with community Partners that directly impact or interact with the emergency shelter system (13 interviews)
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Focus groups and interviews with shelter users (4 focus groups with 31 participants, 9 interviews)
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Brief “intercept” interviews with non-shelter users (10 participants)
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Survey and interviews with comparator municipalities (7 interviews)
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Questionnaire sent to elected officials in Windsor and Essex
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Review of published information on best practices
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Workshop with City staff, shelter service providers and community partners (36 participants).
Shortly after the draft report was prepared, the COVID-19 pandemic began. The pandemic required certain immediate shelter service delivery adjustments to address the initial COVID-19 state of emergency and will also require adjustments for the medium and long-term, at least until a vaccine is available. Public health guidelines for increased hygiene practices, physical distancing and self-isolation are particularly challenging for persons experiencing homelessness.
In May 2020, the City of Windsor in partnership with the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, Windsor Essex Community Health Centre, Essex Windsor EMS, Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare and emergency shelter providers conducted voluntary COVID-19 testing of shelter residents and staff. Results came back negative for COVID-19 for those who were tested.
Despite the favourable testing results, there is no projected date when the pandemic will be “over”, health professionals are contemplating a second wave, and congregate living settings seem to be the hardest hit by the pandemic. The decision was made to ensure that pandemic planning for shelters would be considered long term. The contract with Vink Consulting Inc. was further amended in May of 2020 to update the shelter review considering the impact of COVID-19. (CAOP26/2019, as amended September 19, 2019 and June 18, 2020.)
To support the analysis of adjustments that were required to the draft findings and recommendations, given the reality of the pandemic, additional data was collected through:
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A data and background document review
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Interviews with City staff
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Interviews with shelter service providers
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Interview with Family Services Windsor-Essex outreach manager and outreach worker
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Interviews with 13 shelter and non-shelter users