Shelter management
Turn a temporary refuge into a safer, more accountable place to sleep, receive information, and access care.
Set up the space
Choose a location away from hazards and divide it into clear functions: registration, sleeping, food and water, health, children and quiet space, waste, information, and staff or supplies.
- Keep routes, exits, fire equipment, and accessible toilets clear.
- Separate sleeping and washing areas where possible and plan for privacy.
- Use lighting and a visible help point to reduce isolation and abuse.
- Keep a simple count of arrivals, departures, needs, and available capacity.
Check the building without power
An intact room may still depend on powered doors, lifts, lighting, and water pumps. Check these dependencies with the building manager while conditions are safe, before relying on the building as shelter.
- Identify permitted manual exits and a usable stair route in daylight. Keep routes clear; do not prop fire doors open or bypass access controls.
- Arrange assistance and an accessible fallback for anyone who cannot use stairs. Do not assume an elevator will remain available during unstable power.
- Check how loss of pumping affects upper-floor water and toilets. Follow building and utility instructions if wastewater service is impaired; extra flushing water does not solve a sewer failure.
- Agree on a visible help point and check-in arrangements for residents who depend on others. Carry a light on shared routes.
Run it fairly
Publish the rules, service hours, decision makers, complaint route, and distribution method. Rotate duties, record supplies, and prevent one person from controlling access to essentials without oversight.
Safeguarding
Children, older people, disabled people, displaced people, and anyone separated from a caregiver need active protection. Do not publicly display sensitive personal details or reunite people without verification.