Across all three shelter service providers, services include assessment, housing help, and housing case plans. However, the Downtown Mission’s current service delivery model of checking in at night and checking out before 7am does not support consistent, standardized housing help and housing care plans for all shelter clients. It is recommended that services across the emergency shelter system (City funded or otherwise) align with best practices for emergency shelter services. Implementation of these best practices are even more important amidst the pandemic:

Diversion Supports

It is recommended that a dedicated diversion worker be established. Ideally the diversion worker would have the initial in person meetings with the client and provide problem-solving, advocacy and limited financial assistance, as well as short-term case management and follow-up support, where required. Feasibility of diversion follow-up support within the City’s current budget depends on number of funded beds and resources partners bring to the table. Ideally, a fund to support diversion efforts should also be established that can be used by access/diversion staff in a flexible way to help clients avoid a shelter stay.

Housing-Focused Services

All shelters should have a housing-focused orientation. Each shelter should have daily on-site resources to support a self-directed housing search as well as housing support to develop and implemented individualized care plans and problem solve to address barriers to housing. To support this, shelters would ideally be open 24-7 and provide three meals a day. In addition to benefiting clients, this would benefit Police, Outreach, Housing First and other By-Name Prioritized List partners and help prevent transmission and infections of COVID-19. However, at a minimum, shelters could at least provide service until 9am to allow for onsite housing supports to be initiated/scheduled and the shelters should also provide an opportunity on a daily basis for access to on-site resources and housing supports.

All shelters should follow similar standards for housing supports, including established timelines for completing the VI-SPDAT, developing a care plan, assisting in applying to the Central Housing Registry (CHR), making referrals and providing updates to the By-Names Prioritized List, and updating the care plan.

Services Supporting Inclusion

In addition to all staff having training on topics related to gender identity, sexual orientation, and Indigenous culture, shelters should have practices to ensure the shelter exhibits cultural competency. Shelter service providers should be required to commit to continued self-evaluation and improvement of the services they deliver to diverse population groups, and Indigenous Peoples in particular, based on evidence and leading practices. This may include providing Indigenous clients the option of engaging with culturally specific staff/partners or working towards offering culturally specific services for Indigenous shelter clients.

Income Limits

With more people accessing temporary income supports such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, it is recommended that the City review and increase its income and asset limits for eligibility to City funded shelters, so that having some money in their bank account (for example, up to $5,000) does not create a barrier for people to get out of their housing crisis. By requiring someone to spend the money, for example on a motel/hotel, they no longer have money for first and last