SHELTERS AND ALTERNATIVE ACCOMODATION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS

Shelter for Women and Girls at Risk of or Survivors of Violence

Principle Authors:

Project Leader and Writer: Tracy Gierman

Lead Writer/Researcher: Arla Liska

Expert Advisor: Jan Reimer

Canadian Network Member Advisors:

Ellen Ridgeway, Prince Edward Island Family Violence Prevention Services Inc.

Diane Delaney, Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan

Special thanks:

Sunita Caminha and Dina Deligiorgis, UN Women

******************************************************************************** Secondary Authors: Nadine Wathen, University of Western Ontario (Canada) Anna-Maria Neppel, St?phanie B?dard, Joyce Goodhand and Stephanie Moore, Canadian Network of Women's Shelters & Transition Houses (Canada) Jennifer Fraser, University of Ottawa (Canada) Joy Medori, Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (Canada) Merrill Cooper, Independent Consultant (Canada) Julie Brown, University of British Columbia (Canada) Kathy Cairns, Independent Consultant (Canada) Technical Consultants: Pam Kapoor, Editor (Canada) Nancy Roberts, Information Specialist (Canada)

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Reviewers: Fabrizia Falcione, Women Human Rights Unit, UN Women (Palestine) Cynthia Fraser, National Network to End Domestic Violence (United States of America) Maria Margarita Guill? Tamayo, La Red Interamericana de refugios, RIRE (Mexico) Dr. Khola Iram, The Women Protection Project (Pakistan) Gu?r?n J?nsd?ttir, St?gam?t and Nordic Baltic Network (Iceland) Rosa Logar, Women Against Violence Europe (Austria) Annette Natukunda Mukiga, Rwanda Women Network (Rwanda) Nguyen Van Anh, Center for Applied Sciences in Gender (CSAGA) (Vietnam) Julie Oberin, WESNET and Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (Australia) Dr. Susanna Vardanyan, Women's Rights Center & ASTRA Central and Eastern European Women's Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (Armenia)

Special thanks to the members of the Global Network of Women's Shelters for participating in module development activities in conjunction with the GNWS board meeting in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, March 2011.

Shelter Module March 2013

I. INTRODUCTION Overview

o Why shelters are important o The history and origin of women's sheltering o Forms of shelter and alternative accommodation o Shelter services in brief What is known about shelters and safe spaces (the evidence base)

o Background o Shelters and shelter-specific services

Overall shelter effectiveness Help-seeking, safety planning and access to services Counseling and social support o Shelter outreach and other community-based services o Knowledge gaps

Main challenges

Key strategies

II. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Safety and security should be central to all aspects of accommodation and services

Programmes should reflect the voice of survivors, promoting women's empowerment and right to self-determination

Shelters should be operated by independent women's organizations

Services should be open to all women and appropriately tailored to the diverse needs of those seeking support

III. PLANNING AND DESIGN Getting started

Developing a programme framework

Establishing a shelter facility

o General considerations o Establishing the legal basis o Advocacy o Fundraising o Developing the outline of a shelter operations plan o Location and infrastructure planning o Layout and design

Operations

o Staffing and management o Programme budgeting

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Shelter Module March 2013

o Documentation and records management o Safeguarding personal information

IV. IMPLEMENTATION National legal frameworks and public policies o General considerations o Ensure relevant laws are in place o Develop or improve national or sub-national action plans or policies

Protocols/guidelines and standardization o Standards and regulations o Rights and responsibilities

Practices to promote accessibility for all women and girls o Overview o Women from diverse cultures o Women with children o Adolescents and girls o Women with disabilities o Older women o Mental health and substance abuse o Humanitarian settings

Specialized shelters for various forms of violence o General considerations o Domestic and sexual violence o Trafficking o Harmful practices

Alternative accommodation

o Overview o Safe homes o Emergency safe spaces o Confidential private accommodation o Sanctuary schemes

General considerations Needs assessment and support planning

Safety and protection services

o Overview

o Security strategies and features in shelter facilities

o Arrival procedures and practices General considerations Providing information on shelter services Requesting informed consent Gathering registration information

o Crisis intervention

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Shelter Module March 2013

Overview Techniques Models o Help line services Overview Establishing and operating help lines Training and supervision of staff and volunteers o Risk assessment Overview Risk of lethality Risk of re-assault Tools o Safety planning Overview Conducting safety planning Tools

Counseling and support services o Overview o Individual counseling General Guidance Techniques Processes Tools o Online counseling Background Organizational readiness Safety and confidentiality Techniques o Trauma response and support Background Staff knowledge and skills Techniques o Support groups Background Planning Facilitating and managing the group Addressing challenges Tools o Case planning Background Practices

Advocacy and coordinated community responses o Overview o Systems Advocacy Background Domestic Violence

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Shelter Module March 2013 Trafficking

o Individual Advocacy Background Practices Legal advocacy

Social and economic supports o Overview o Economic development and opportunities o Safe and affordable housing o Community outreach and awareness Outreach to raise awareness Outreach during transition from shelter Safety for outreach workers

V. Monitoring and Evaluation Why monitoring and evaluation are important General considerations Developing a monitoring and evaluation framework Conducting monitoring and evaluation Reporting and applying results

VI. References

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