Services delivered: VAW emergency shelter and supports
Component: Violence Against Women
Service objectives
- To provide community-based emergency bed-based safe space and crisis support services for women and their dependents who have experienced violence, in order that they may live free of violence
- To provide 24/7 crisis phone counselling, including assistance with safety planning, providing information on rights, options and available services, referrals, etc., to assist women to manage an immediate crisis situation
- To support the development of a personal safety plan for women and their dependents, who have experienced violence, in order to confirm their immediate safety and help them avoid further abuse
Service description
Eligibility
Services are for women aged 16 years or older who identify themselves as having experienced sexual, physical, and/or emotional abuse, and their dependents
Safety planning
- Services include the development of safety strategies or plans for women and their dependents
- A safety plan identifies the steps a woman and their dependents can take to increase their safety and helps to prepare them for the possibility of further violence. It should include, but not be limited to
- Emergency escape plans for various situations (e.g., going to court, workplace, home)
- A list of emergency and resource numbers; and
- A list of items to be stored in a safe place (e.g., ID, clothes)
- Safety plans reflect the woman’s immediate personal circumstances, needs and choices
- The plan will be comprehensive, concrete, and include safety strategies and referrals to appropriate services
Specific services provided
- Supportive counselling
- Temporary safe and secure bed-based services
- Provision of food and other supports in emergency shelter (e.g., blankets, hygiene products)
- Emergency transportation
- Referrals or linking women to alternative accommodations
- Support with finding housing
- Provision of information on rights, options, and available services
- Development of safety strategies or plans for women and their dependents
- Supports for system navigation
- Assistance with information on immigration, transportation and cultural interpretation
- Services through the local crisis line
- Outreach to women, including promoting bed-based services
- Advocacy on behalf of the woman and her dependents
- Children’s services including child care
Services excluded
- The VAW emergency shelter and supports excludes the following services funded and reported under other VAW programs:
- Crisis counselling through provincial crisis line
- Clinical counselling services; and
- Sexual assault and long-term counselling
Program/service features
Program goals
- Assist women who are fleeing violent / abusive relationships to increase safety for themselves and their dependents, prevent re-victimization and take steps to rebuild their lives
- Support women and their dependents to understand their rights, safety planning and violence prevention strategies
- Assist women in supporting their dependents to heal from the effects of witnessing violence
- Assist and advocate for women and their dependents regarding their health, safety and well-being
Ministry expectations
- Programs will seek to empower women in their various roles, including that of caregiver, through services that are person-centered and strengths-based
- TPRs will implement written policies and procedures in place to address areas identified in the Violence Against Women Emergency Shelter Standards (September 2015 or as updated)
Reporting requirements
The following service data will be reported on at an Interim and Final stage. Please refer to your final agreement for report back due dates and targets.
Service Data Name | Definition |
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# of Resident Days: Women: Emergency Shelter and Supports |
The number of calendar days an individual is served in the emergency bed-based space. The day of entry to service is counted and the day of exit is not counted. When the individual enters and leaves the service on the same day, one day is counted. Count resident days when the following types of beds are used by VAW clients: Beds funded by MCCSS; Beds funded by other revenue (e.g., fundraising) but dedicated for the use by VAW clients; Beds funded by other programs (e.g., homelessness); and Alternate settings (e.g., overflow beds, cots, hotel rooms, cribs, etc.). Resident days for dependents are not counted in this data element. Note: The day of exit is not counted to allow accurate calculation of occupancy rates. Otherwise, the same bed would be counted twice for two different women on the same day. In order to track resident days, take a daily census of occupied beds (including alternate settings if used) and add up the census to calculate the total resident days for the reporting period. |
# of Resident Days: Dependents: Emergency Shelter and Supports |
The number of calendar days an individual is served in the emergency bed-based space. The day of entry to service is counted and the day of exit is not counted. When the individual enters and leaves the service on the same day, one day is counted. Count resident days when the following types of beds are used by VAW clients: Beds funded by MCCSS; Beds funded by other revenue (e.g., fundraising) but dedicated for use for VAW clients; Beds funded by other programs (e.g., homelessness); and Alternate settings (e.g., overflow beds, cots, hotel rooms, cribs, etc.). Dependents are those of the abused woman receiving service. The dependent or child must be receiving services to be counted. Note: The day of exit is not counted to allow accurate calculation of occupancy rates. Otherwise, the same bed would be counted twice for two different women on the same day. In order to track resident days, take a daily census of occupied beds (including alternate settings if used) and add up the census to calculate the total resident days for the reporting period. |
Unique, or unduplicated, count of all individuals who identify as women who received services in an emergency bed-based space in the reporting year. A woman is counted only once per reporting period. The count represents an active client roster for the year. If the client carries into the next fiscal year, the client is counted again in the new reporting period. This data element is only reported for bed-based clients; non-bed-based clients and phone calls to the shelter are excluded from this data element. Dependents are not counted in this data element. |
|
# of Indigenous Women Served: Emergency Shelter and Supports |
Unique, or unduplicated, count of all individuals who identify as women and self-declared as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit descent who received services in an emergency bed-based space in the reporting year. This data element is only reported for bed-based clients; calls to crisis lines and non-bed-based clients are excluded from this data element. |
# of Dependents Served: Emergency Shelter and Supports |
Unique, or unduplicated, count of all dependents who received services in an emergency bed-based space in the reporting year. A dependent is counted only once per year. The count represents an active client roster for the year. If the client carries into the next fiscal year, the client is counted again in the new reporting period. Dependents are those of the abused woman receiving service. The dependent or child must be receiving services to be counted. |
# of Beds: MCCSS Funded: Emergency Shelter and Supports |
The total number of spaces for overnight stay by residents at the end of the reporting period. This is a snapshot figure. The spaces include beds that are and are not occupied at the time of count. This includes beds fully or partially funded by MCCSS VAW funding. The total number of beds does not include alternate settings (e.g., overflow beds, cots, hotel rooms, cribs, etc.) that are used when the shelter is at capacity; or Beds that are dedicated for use by another service (e.g., homelessness). |
# of Beds: Funded by Other Revenue: Emergency Shelter and Supports |
The total number of spaces for overnight stay by residents at the end of the reporting period. This is a snapshot figure. The spaces include beds that are and are not occupied at the time of count. This includes beds fully funded by revenue sources outside of MCCSS VAW that are dedicated for the use by VAW clients (i.e., beds that are funded by fundraising or other revenue sources that help increase the capacity of the service system). The total number of beds does not include alternate settings (e.g., overflow beds, cots, hotel rooms, cribs, etc.) used when the shelter is at capacity; or Beds that are dedicated for use by another service (e.g., homelessness). |
# of Admissions: Emergency Shelter and Supports |
The total number of individuals who identify as women who were accepted to the program to receive services as residents from paid staff during the reporting year. The same person may be counted more than once if they re-enter the service (this is not a unique count of individuals). All admissions must be documented. For example, a woman begins staying at the shelter in April. She leaves the shelter after two weeks. She returns to the shelter in August for a month. In this scenario, two admissions are counted because the woman re-entered the service within the same fiscal year. Dependents are not counted in this data element. |
# of Bed Days Available: Emergency Shelter and Supports |
The cumulative number of spaces available and staffed each day in the period to provide services during the reporting period. The total spaces available each day of the reporting period are added. The following types of beds are counted: Beds funded by MCCSS; and Beds funded by other revenue (e.g., fundraising) but dedicated for use for VAW clients. The following types of beds are NOT included in the count: Beds funded by other programs (e.g., homelessness); and Alternate settings (e.g., overflow beds, cots, hotel rooms, cribs, etc.) This data element is intended to show the organization’s capacity to provide service. Spaces or beds that cannot be staffed or spaces closed for renovations that are unavailable for service should not be included. These unavailable bed days are not counted but can be derived from this data element. Note: To track this data element, use one of the following two methods: 1) Take a daily census of all open or occupied VAW beds funded by MCCSS or other revenue. For this census, exclude alternate settings (e.g., overflow beds, cots, hotel rooms, and cribs) and beds dedicated for use by another service (e.g., homelessness). Add up the total daily bed count for the reporting period to report bed days available; OR 2) Track the number of days beds are unavailable daily and subtract this count from the number of beds multiplied by the number of days in the reporting period. For example, for the year end reporting, in a ten-bed shelter, one bed was closed for renovations for 20 days during the year. Therefore, the year-end figure for bed days available will equal 3,630:(365 days/year *10 beds) – 20 days closed = 3,630 Note: In a leap year, where there is a February 29th, the above calculation would be based on 366 days. |
Emergency Shelter and Supports: Ministry-funded Agency Expenditures |
Total ministry-funded expenses for the Transfer Payment Recipient to administer and/or deliver this program in the reporting year(cumulative). |
# of Vacant and Unassignable Bed Days: Emergency Shelter and Supports |
The cumulative number of beds each day in the reporting period that are vacant but unassignable due to the configuration of rooms. For example, if a family occupies three of four beds in a room, the fourth bed should be counted as unassignable due to room configuration if the shelter will not place a single woman in a room with a family. The total spaces that are unassignable due to room configuration on each day of the reporting period are added. The following types of beds are counted: Beds funded by MCCSS; Beds funded by other revenue (e.g., fundraising) but dedicated for the use by VAW clients. The following types of beds are NOT included in the count: Beds funded by other programs (e.g., homelessness); Alternate settings (e.g., overflow beds, cots, hotel rooms, cribs, etc.); Beds that are closed and unavailable due to renovations. This data is intended to show the organization’s true capacity to provide service. Rooms that are closed due to renovations are not reported under this data element, since they can be derived from Bed Days Available. To track this data element, use the following method: Take a daily census of all vacant VAW beds funded by MCCSS and other revenue that are not available due to room configuration. For this census, exclude alternate settings (e.g., overflow beds, cots, hotel rooms, and cribs) and beds dedicated for use by another service (e.g., homelessness). Add up the total daily unassignable bed count for the reporting period to report vacant and unassignable bed days. |
# of Referrals to a More Appropriate Service: Emergency Shelter and Supports |
This data element includes requests for Emergency Shelter and Supports that were referred elsewhere because they required a more appropriate service at the same agency or at another agency. This may include referral to a specific culturally responsive service, a service in another language, or any other service or provider that meets the individual’s needs (e.g., connecting with community resources). The same person may be counted more than once if they requested service at different points in the fiscal year. Reporting is based on the initial response that takes place following the request for service. Dependents are not counted in this data element. |
# of Referrals Elsewhere Due to Capacity or Placed on Waitlist: Emergency Shelter and Supports |
This data element includes requests for Emergency Shelter and Supports that were: Referred elsewhere because the service was at capacity (e.g., beds are at capacity); or Placed on a waitlist. The same person may be counted more than once if they requested service at different points in the fiscal year. Reporting is based on the initial response that takes place following the request for service. For example, if a woman requests service and is placed on the waitlist and receives the service within the same reporting period, her request for service should still be reported once in this data element. Dependents are not counted in this data element. |