Table 2 Summary of Recommendations for Policy & Practice

Policy-focused recommendations

1. VAW services have multiple government and non-government funders. Getting different, sometimes conflicting rules, from these Ministries, along with local public health guidance, is unduly confusing and a barrier to developing consistent protocols

•One size does not fit all: While women’s shelters are congregate housing, they are very different from others in terms of services provided, size, type and age of facilities. Given their unique contexts and clients, each agency should be supported in tailoring protocols to their specific needs to minimize harm to women and children while respecting health and safety

•Protocols and rules must be synchronized across Ministries and Public Health, and aligned with both regional contexts, and the specific context of VAW services, ideally in consultation with VAW sector leaders

2. Any new rules or protocols require clear and timely communication and resources, including time, to support implementation

Practice-focused recommendations

1. Inconsistency or lack of clarity in rules, and how they are communicated, is frustrating and a source of significant stress for women using shelter services, and staff

•Women need to understand what options are available (e.g., in shelter, alternative housing, and in outreach) and what’s expected of them and their children in these spaces. These must be clearly provided taking into account various literacy factors

•Staff need information and support so that they can effectively communicate and explain rules to women

2. As in the broader public, there was often the perception that the rules did not apply equally to everyone, such as women of colour, Indigenous women, and/or those whose first language was not English

•Sector leaders need to provide oversight to ensure that rules are applied equitably, including being clear why different rules might apply to women versus staff, or between different staff groups