Birchway Niagara

Maintaining Low-Barrier Admissions

Birchway Niagara maintains low-barrier access to shelter by:

• Not requiring sobriety as a condition of entry or return;
• Explaining the shelter’s harm reduction approach during the initial crisis call so women understand what to expect before arriving at the shelter; and
• Supporting women whether or not they are planning to leave an abusive partner.

Creating Flexible & Participant-Centred Expectations

Birchway Niagara’s approach is grounded in participant choice, individualized planning, and flexible safety supports. Practices include:

• Recognizing each woman as the expert in her own life;
• Supporting women in identifying their own goals and priorities;
• Using individualized safety planning and case-by-case responses when behaviours create safety concerns; and
• Completing individualized Harm Reduction Safety Plans with participants.

Fostering Safe & Trusting Environments

Birchway Niagara incorporates several practices aimed at building trust, safety, and participant support, including:

• Using de-escalation approaches before involving emergency services;
• Avoiding police contact solely because of drug use or possession;
• Treating police involvement as a last resort;
• Reassuring women that accessing shelter services does not affect custody of their children;
• Offering staff debriefing, management support, and mental health crisis resources; and
• Providing Family Court Support Worker and Legal Advocate services.

Embedding Harm Reduction & Health Supports

Birchway Niagara integrates harm reduction and health supports into shelter operations through:

• Providing anonymous access to needle disposal units in every bedroom;
• Providing access to naloxone and safer-sex supplies;
• Allowing participants to store safer drug use equipment in personal lockers;
• Providing ongoing staff training related to naloxone and local harm reduction supports;
• Referring women to overdose prevention services upon request;
• Partnering with local harm reduction, healthcare, and community organizations; and
• Supporting women in accessing HIV, HCV, and STBBI-related services and referrals.

Recognizing Women’s Intersecting Identities

Birchway Niagara recognizes that survivors may experience overlapping forms of violence, discrimination, stigma, and systems involvement. Practices include:

• Providing services to all members of the community who identify as women, regardless of gender identity;
• Offering support to 2SLGBTQ+ community members through shelter, outreach, phone, and text-based services;
• Providing professional interpretation services in a participant’s preferred language;
• Connecting French-speaking participants with French-language supports and services;
• Offering physically accessible facilities, including an elevator, barrier-free entrances, and barrier-free showers; and
• Offering Child and Youth Intervention Advocate services for children and youth ages 4–19 staying inshelter.