The health and safety of all residents in any shelter are of the utmost
priority.
Physical Plant
All shelter center facilities should be in adequate repair and in
compliance with local health, fire, electrical, and building codes.
Shelter centers should make reasonable accommodations for accessibility
that do not create a financial burden to the shelter center and
that comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Shelter centers should provide the 24-hour-a-day shelter with:
- A kitchen and eating area.
- A group living area.
- Bathroom facilities including toilets, lavatories, and bathing
facilities.
- Sleeping facilities.
- Private counseling and/or group room.
- Basic furnishings that are clean and in good repair including
beds and bed linens, cribs, dining room tables, chairs, highchairs,
and a place to store clothes, such as drawers or closets.
- A safe indoor play space equipped with toys in good repair,
arts and craft supplies.
- A safe outdoor playground equipped with toys in good condition.
Shelter centers should have a written policy on smoking that is posted
in the shelter facilities. If smoking is allowed in the shelter
facility, there must be a designated smoking area that is well
ventilated.
Note: A safe indoor space may be designated children's playroom or a designated
play area within the shelter. A safe outdoor play space may be an
outdoor area on the shelter center's property or an outdoor area
away from the shelter that is considered a safe space.
It is recommended that shelter centers provide:
A designated space for teenagers.
At least one bathroom with accommodations for children.
Furnishings for young children.
It is recommended that shelter center's environment reflect the ethnic/cultural
diversity of residents and nonresidents.
Food Preparation and Serving Areas
Food preparation and serving areas should be adequate to ensure the
safe storage and preparation of food.
Shelter centers should have written procedures to ensure that residents
are provided with at least three well-balanced meals or ingredients
for well-balanced meals and an additional two snacks a day for
children.
Shelter centers with kitchens that are closed during designated hours
should develop written procedures that provide for alternative
access to essential food and food preparation.
Shelter centers should make reasonable dietary accommodations for residents
requiring special medical diets, as requested by their health
care providers, and that comply with the Americans With Disabilities
Acts.
Shelter centers should not require residents to use food stamps to purchase
shelter meals. If shelter centers accept food stamps for the purchase
of meals, written policies and procedures should be developed
ensuring compliance with United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) food stamp regulations.
It is recommended that shelter centers offer alternative menus to respect
individual dietary preferences.
It is recommended that shelter centers comply with the Rules on Food
Service Sanitation as adopted by the Texas Board of Health.
Clothing
Shelter centers should have written procedures for providing clothing to
residents and nonresidents.
24-Hour-a-Day Shelter Residents' Belongings
Shelter centers should have written policies and procedures regarding
the security of residents' belongings.
Residents should be informed in writing:
- How long personal belongings will be stored if they leave the
24-hour-a-day shelter, and
- what will happen to their items if they do not pick them up
by the deadline?
Safety and Security
Shelter centers should have written policies and procedures to ensure
the safety and security of residents and nonresidents.
Shelter centers should have written safety and security policies and procedures
for responding to:
- Assaults to persons.
- Natural disasters, such as tornadoes, and floods.
- Fires.
Shelter centers should develop and endorse written nonviolent disciplinary
policies and procedures regarding child residents and nonresidents.
Shelter centers should have written policies and procedures ensuring the
safety of children in shelter center facilities and maintaining
the safety of children when staff or volunteers take them on outings.
A first aid kit, accessible to staff and volunteers, should be kept
in all shelter center facilities.
Shelter center facilities should clearly mark all exits with appropriate
exit signs.
It is recommended that shelter centers provide first aid and CPR training
to staff and direct service volunteers.
24-Hour-a-Day Shelter Safety and Security
24-hour-a-day shelters should have 24-hour on-site staff and/or volunteer coverage
when there are residents staying in the shelter facility.
Any shelter that accepts victims of domestic violence should have
written procedures to ensure safety by providing a security system
that is operational 24-hours-a-day.
Security systems may include, but are not limited to, special lighting, alarm
systems, deadbolts, or agreements with local law enforcement.
Health and Hygiene
Shelter centers should have written health and hygiene policies and procedures
that include but are not limited to:
Practices to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.
Hygienic practices for kitchen, bathroom, sleeping, and children areas,
including children's toys and highchairs.
24 hour-a-day Shelter Personal Hygiene Items
Residents should have daily access to basic personal hygiene items.
When providing personal hygiene items, shelter centers should consider
the diverse needs of the population of the shelter service area.
Shelter centers are encouraged to provide ethnic-specific cosmetics.
Communicable Disease
Shelter centers should have written policies and procedures concerning the
provision of services to individuals with a communicable disease,
including:
Procedures that comply with the local, regional, or state health department
and federal regulations.
Procedures that comply with The Communicable Disease Prevention and Control
Act under the Health & Safety Code, Chapter 81, and the Texas
Department of Health's rules and regulations governing the control
and reporting of notifiable conditions for notification to the
local health authority or department concerning reportable illnesses.
Procedures that ensure as much as possible that other residents, staff, and
volunteers will be safe from infection.
Procedures that address the safety of the victim and ensure that the ailing
resident(s) is treated with respect.
The Rules and Regulations Governing the Control and Reporting of Notifiable
Conditions (Texas Department of Health) provides rules regarding
the notification and provisions of reportable diseases. The local
Health Department should be:
Notified of a person suspected of having a reportable disease.
Provided with all available information concerning their illness and physical
condition.
Immunizations
Shelter centers with on-site medical providers are required by law to screen
the immunization status of children ages 0 - 18. If immunizations
are needed, the medical provider is required to give the immunizations
or make a referral.
Shelter centers should provide basic written information on schedules for
immunizations, information about vaccine-preventable diseases and
the need for immunizations.
It is recommended that the shelter center contact their local, regional,
or state department of health for free information, posters, and
brochures on the subject of immunizations.
To ensure that children are fully immunized, shelter centers are encouraged
to call the state health department immunization division to develop
an immunization plan.
Additional Guidelines for Maximum Facility, Safety, and Health Management
Shelter centers are encouraged to network with their local health department
and other medical providers to establish free on-site health screening
services.
Shelter centers are encouraged to work with Health professionals to offer
on site nutrition programs.
Shelter centers are encouraged to network with local businesses to provide
free on and off site services, i.e., haircuts, aerobic classes,
educational and recreational programs, passes to local gym, etc.
Shelter centers are encouraged to provide comfortable surroundings that
are carefully planned. Community groups may adopt bedrooms.
Shelter centers are encouraged to utilize mattresses and pillows with
protective covers.
It is recommended that shelter centers network with the community
to provide clothing in various sizes and styles, for example:
full and petite sizes, maternity clothing, and clothing for job
interviews. Shelter centers are encouraged to provide resident
children in need with new undergarments.
