Managing Safety Risks and Barriers to Shelter

Challenges Associated With Community Living in Emergency and Transitional Housing Physical Space Issues Personality Issues Traumatized Population Issues Culture of Poverty Issues

General Physical Risk Factors Behavior Disruptive or violentDisruptive or violent ScaryScaryHealth Communicable DiseasesCommunicable Diseases

Assessing Health Issues Questions at intake or upon initial screening –HIV, Hepatitis, STI, etc. Mandated Medical Tests –Breathalyzers, TB, HIV, etc. Mandated Reporting of Medications

Assessing Behavior Issues Questions at intake or upon initial screening –Personal History (history of abuse, mental illness, childhood trauma, etc.) Formal Background Check –Criminal –CPS –Sex Offender Registry

Issues To Consider With Assessment Confidentiality Issues Trust Issues Power Dynamic Double Standard of the Middle Class Unanticipated Effects on Staff/ Client Relationship Accuracy of the Information Qualifications and background of person conducting the Assessment Effectiveness in Predicting Risk Who is the Population We Serve

What To Do For Staff?.... Develop and Review Current Policies and Processes on Assessments –Include staff and outside professionals –Access regular and updated mandatory training for staff on relevant issues –Develop a Universal Precautions Policy –Implement Policies and Processes Consistently Mandate Communication Among Appropriate Staff

What to do for Clients? Review and update “rules for shelter” Present and Review “rules” before they accept shelter - Include universal precautions policy Post “rules” around facility Have appropriate supplies available in order to implement universal precautions policy KISS (Keep It Simple Silly) –No 10 pages of rules!

Questions??

Nicole Poulin Program Manager Homeless and Special Needs Housing Department of Housing and Community Development (804)