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This adaptation of the psychological first aid model is designed to be used when working with youth who are experiencing homelessness. The guide provides a framework and a model for direct care staff working in drop-in centers, emergency and transitional shelters, and group homes so they can better understand and address the needs of homeless youth who are often impacted by trauma.
View ResourceThis guide provides an adaptation of the psychological first aid model that shelter providers can use when working with families experiencing homelessness.
View ResourceDeveloped for emergency planners and providers of services for people experiencing homelessness, this resource reviews research on disaster vulnerability and highlights the importance of adapting disaster planning to best serve at-risk populations. Expert guidance provided in this consultation includes suggestions for supporting population-specific needs and managing service reductions.
View ResourceDeveloped for programs serving people experiencing homelessness, this fact sheet offers information and guidance for supporting youth who are homeless and who have a trauma history, which may include traumatic experience associated with disaster. It includes a definition of complex trauma and explores its effects on youth experiencing homelessness, offering providers recommendations for conducting intake assessment and providing ongoing care.
View ResourceDeveloped for shelter staff members, this fact sheet provides guidance for supporting families and children experiencing homelessness. It includes a definition of complex trauma, which may involve trauma linked to a disaster, and explores its effects on caregivers and children who are homeless, offering recommendations for providing support.
View ResourceThis web page provides information on housing and homelessness resources and opportunities available to community members facing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other concurrent disasters. It features resources describing housing, legal, and funding aids from federal and local governments available for individuals in need.
View ResourceThis resource highlights ways that emergency management plans fail to meet the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness and offers guidance for local officials, emergency planners, homeless service providers, and others involved in disaster planning. It provides strategies for addressing barriers people experiencing homelessness face, including lack of transportation and ability to evacuate, health status, and communication issues.
View ResourceThis web page includes information and resources related to students experiencing homelessness and disasters, with a focus on helping students cope and connecting schools to displaced students. It features a series of briefs about the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and how it can help students and families displaced by disaster, as well as links to resources from federal agencies and nonprofit organizations.
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This toolkit provides guidance for building an inclusive emergency management system and highlights the importance of collaboration between and among healthcare professionals, emergency managers and public health officials, and professionals who provide services to individuals experiencing homelessness. It offers resources and strategies for addressing the needs of people experiencing homelessness during disasters.
View ResourceThis comprehensive toolkit provides communities with information and resources to develop a disaster response and recovery plan that addresses the needs of community members experiencing homelessness. The toolkit features information regarding stakeholders; data regarding homelessness; provider networks; and checklists of key actions for disaster planners to consider before, during, and after disasters.
View ResourceAn essential element to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness during disasters is to establish communication and provide successful outreach. This recorded presentation provides guidelines for reaching people experiencing homelessness effectively through case illustrations and the application of five clinical principles of care.
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Companion animals are often essential for individuals experiencing homelessness to reduce stress and enhance resilience. This resource provides best practice guidance for treating this bond as a family unit when providing individuals experiencing homelessness with services, shelter, and support during disasters.
View ResourceThis web page compiles numerous resources for individuals experiencing homelessness seeking housing and food assistance, health and safety support, and disaster support. The collection includes national and local agencies readily available to provide for people experiencing homelessness through hotlines, food banks, treatment centers, and more.
View ResourceThis guide offers staff at service provider organizations best practices and tools for building engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness and successfully involving them in services and programs. It describes principles and roles of outreach, highlights possible challenges, and offers strategies for effective outreach.
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This manual presents an adaptation of Psychological First Aid for professionals working with individuals and families experiencing homelessness. It includes information on trauma and strategies for shelter staff members to gather information, address immediate needs, and connect families with social supports. The manual includes worksheets and examples to refer to when offering services.
View ResourceThis report highlights the importance of partnerships and improved communication between and among homeless services providers, disaster planners, and individuals experiencing homelessness to develop a successful disaster response and recovery plan. Based on the experiences of two disaster-affected communities, the report describes research and findings on best practices for serving communities experiencing homelessness during disasters.
View ResourceThese weather-specific informational flyers designed for people experiencing homelessness were created using input from people who were or are homeless. Each of the nine flyers focuses on a different natural disaster, offering weather-appropriate guidance for individuals seeking shelter and safety.
View ResourceDeveloped by several organizations, this web page and framework provide communities guidance for developing effective plans for homeless communities coping with challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It features resources and videos that highlight strategies, funding opportunities, and tools that can be used to meet community health needs and prevent increases in homelessness.
View ResourceThis tip sheet provides comprehensive outreach steps for healthcare and other professionals who provide services to individuals experiencing homelessness. The steps included, such as establishing a consistent community presence and encouraging goal setting, are highlighted as strategies for building engagement.
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This tip sheet explores retraumatization signs and symptoms that survivors of disasters and other traumatic events may experience. It provides tips for managing symptoms and building resilience.
View ResourceThis recorded webinar explores the role emergency shelters must fill during a housing crisis and encourages providers to assess their response plans and practices. It includes data and research related to length of stay, reasons individuals may avoid shelters, and shelter outcomes. The page also links to self-assessments shelter providers can use to determine opportunities for improvement in their crisis response plan.
View ResourceThe second webinar in a series focused on individuals experiencing homelessness and winter crises, this recording focuses on challenges posed for vulnerable populations when natural disasters occur during colder seasons. Presented by professionals from homeless service provider organizations and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the webinar highlights strategies for overcoming barriers.
View ResourceThis recorded webcast describes an incident involving a person in Texas who was experiencing homelessness when he got sick with Ebola virus disease in 2014. The webcast features firsthand experiences, lessons learned, and best practices for disaster behavioral health services in relation to Ebola and other public health emergencies.
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