Coronavirus and Women's Shelters: Planning, Preparation and Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
This resource was developed by the Global Network of Women’s Shelters (GNWS) and Asian Network of Women’s Shelters, and shared by the Homeless Hub.
The rapid spread of coronavirus/COVID-19 has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis around the world. As with most disasters, women and girls are likely to be disproportionately affected. The outbreak presents huge challenges for shelters in terms of safety and training for staff, protection of clients, measures to contain an outbreak within a facility, helping staff work remotely while still supporting victims, and ensuring adequate resources are in place. In addition, as families are encouraged or forced to stay at home, women and children who are vulnerable to domestic abuse will be at greater risk.
Topics of discussion include: shelter health and safety guidelines, response principles and control measures, experiences from other epidemic situations, use of technology, how to help shelter staff work from home, strategies to deal with city, state or national lockdowns, protecting client confidentiality, advice for other gender-based violence prevention programs.
Check out the webinar recording here: https://www.homelesshub.ca/res...id-19-pandemic%C2%A0
Additional resources from the Homeless Hub on COVID-19 are available here:
Supporting Survivors’ Access to Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services During the COVID-19 Emergency - 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.