Emergency shelters play a critical role in ending homelessness. Effective shelters should embrace a Housing First approach, offer immediate and low-barrier access to anyone facing a housing crisis, and measure shelter performance in order to improve results. The Emergency Shelter Learning Series is a collection of webinars and resources from the Alliance focused on explaining the philosophy and practice of effective emergency shelter.
The Basics: Introduction to Low-Barrier Emergency Shelter
These short videos will teach you the basics of making the transition to low-barrier, housing-focused shelter. They feature animated explainers and interviews with staff running low-barrier shelters. | Video 3 minutes each
Webinars and Resources
The Role of Emergency Shelter in the Crisis Response System
This webinar discusses the role of emergency shelters in a crisis response system and explores what the data and research tell us about emergency shelter and why people may choose not to access it. | Webinar 55 minutes
Watch and Download Resources
Additional Resources:
- Download slides
- Self-Assesment Online Survey
- System Role Self-Assessment and Action Plan
- Housing First Self-Assessment and Action Plan
- Diversion Self-Assessment Action Plan
- Low-Barrier Self- Assessment and Action Plan
- Housing-focused and Rapid Exit Services Self-Assessment and Action Plan
- Using our Data Self-Assessment and Action Plan
The Keys to Effective Low Barrier Emergency Shelters
This webinar gives an overview of the Five Keys to Effective Emergency Shelter: using a Housing First approach, safe and appropriate diversion, immediate and low-barrier access to shelter, housing-focused services, and using data to measure performance. | Webinar 55 minutes
Watch and Download ResourcesAdditional Resources:
How to Transition Your Emergency Shelter to a Low-Barrier and Housing-Focused Shelter Model
This webinar features leaders from three emergency shelters who have made the shift to low-barrier, housing-focused emergency shelter. Panelist address common questions and concerns regarding low barrier shelter. | Webinar 90 minutes
Watch and Download Resources
Infographics
Click images to expand
The Five Keys to Effective Emergency Shelter |
10 Steps to Evaluating Your Shelter Rules |
Safely Serving Families and Survivors of Domestic Violence
This webinar focuses on shelters that serve families and survivors of domestic violence and discusses how to retool your shelter’s rules, expectations, and policies and procedures in a low-barrier environment that prioritizes safety for participants and staff. | Webinar 90 minutes
Watch and Download ResourcesAdditional Resources:
Serving Single Adults in Congregate Settings
This webinar addresses rules and safety issues for low-barrier shelters that serve single adults. Participants will learn how to re-examine and shift rules to expectations that promote safety. | Webinar 90 minutes
Watch and Download ResourcesAdditional Resources:
Frequently Asked Questions for Low-Barrier Shelter
This webinar answers the toughest and most frequently asked questions from people like you! The Alliance collected questions from the thousands of service providers who tuned into sessions 1–5 and put them to the experts. | Webinar 90 minutes
Watch and Download ResourcesAdditional Resources: