Supporting People Who Use Substances in Shelter Settings During the COVID-19 Pandemic: National Rapid Guidance

The purpose of this guidance document is to support organizations operating new or existing shelter settings in providing evidence-informed care for people who use substances during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Strategies discussed therein are intended to mitigate risks of overdose death, withdrawal, the transmission of bloodborne infections, and other poor health outcomes while also supporting people to adhere to physical distancing and self-isolation requirements for preventing COVID-19 transmission. The authors define shelter settings to include existing day and overnight homeless shelters, as well as new temporary shelters implemented to support people experiencing homelessness or housing vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic.