part of the community, that the community believes it can absorb and eventually will be a positive addition to the community. Drop-in/help centres should not change the landscape of the community and be large imposing structures. Often it is better to locate a drop-in/help centre in an existing structure. Drop-in/help centres should establish operational protocols that help ensure they are a good neighbour, such as communications protocols, regular meetings with neighbours, monitoring and maintenance of public areas immediately adjacent to the facility, and encouraging clients to take ownership and responsibility for the community.

From a pandemic perspective, any drop-in/help centres need to:

• Configure space to allow for safe physical distancing

• Provide screening and continue to direct people who are unwell to testing

• Support people who are unsheltered that want shelter on how to access shelter space

• Participate in planning to assist unsheltered persons choosing to remain outdoors.

Shelter Modifications Amidst Pandemic Reality

The initial/peak phases of pandemic response should be focused on emergency protective measures and incorporating public health guidelines into services, including:

• Reconfiguring shelters to promote physical distancing, including increasing spacing between beds (two meters if possible), creating barriers between beds, staggering mealtimes, and staggering use of shared spaces and bathing facilities. When establishing new sleeping areas, each person should ideally have 4.6 square metres of space.

• Increasing infection prevention and control measures such as additional personal hygiene, using appropriate personal protective equipment, updating food handling procedures, and increasing cleaning protocols

• Training staff on safety measures

• Establishing screening and testing protocols

• Distributing disease prevention materials to shelter users

• Directing people who are unwell to testing and isolation spaces, and arranging transportation if required

• Establishing new non-congregate shelter options to provide isolation spaces

• Ideally, establishing alternate non-congregate settings for older people, those with pre-existing health conditions, and options for those who would otherwise remain unsheltered

• Updating policies to reduce barriers and avoid service restrictions if at all possible

• Implementing harm reduction activities for shelter users who are isolating

During the post-peak period, changes may be required to existing shelters to address capacity and other facility issues given the need to maintain public health guidelines, at least until a vaccine is available. Some shelters may require lower occupancy and/or a change in configuration of operations and services. For example, changes may be required if there are congregate sleeping arrangements that don’t allow for sufficient physical distancing, washrooms shared by numerous shelter users, or shelters that are not financially prudent at a reduced number of beds. Congregate sleeping areas put people at higher risk of COVID-19. Post-peak pandemic, the focus should again shift to reducing entries into homelessness through prevention and diversion and increasing housing-focused supports in shelters.