The reorganization of institutional and community services for people experiencing homelessness and the needs of people experiencing homelessness to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic

Considering the containment measures adopted by the government, the restrictions in terms of gathering and movement, the closures of public spaces but also private spaces of a public nature such as shops, shopping centers, libraries, etc., the reality of people experiencing homelessness (PSI) has changed profoundly in recent weeks, as have intervention practices in this field. However, few studies are interested in understanding the impacts on organizations, services, stakeholders and the people concerned, as well as the adaptation mechanisms and strategies put in place. The objective of this study is therefore to understand this resilience of organizations, institutional and community stakeholders and people experiencing homelessness. By observing and comparing in the different regions of Quebec, the adaptations, the transformations put in place as well as the resistance encountered to respond to this pandemic, the project aims to document and circulate the responses offered in terms of intervention in the field of homelessness, the impacts of COVID on stakeholders and their practices in different intervention settings and on PSI in their routines and needs by contrasting on the dimensions of sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, type of homelessness experienced and associated personal difficulties (in particular mental health and drug use) By creating a Homelessness-COVID19 Observatory, this study aims to produce analyses focused on the use of the results by professionals and decision-makers, and a transfer of knowledge oriented towards sharing lessons learned here to better support elsewhere in order to support and strengthen the resilience of all in the context of this pandemic.