Community Solutions

• What is Diversion? (Blog, 2022)

OrgCode

• Diversion and Housing Loss Prevention Guide (2022) – a 40 page guide with information, practical steps and case studies. See this overview webinar recording and PDF.

Homelessness learning hub

• Introduction to Shelter Diversion – free self-paced training course with 11 lessons, two quizzes, case studies and certificate.
• Shelter Diversion Resource Collection – This collection brings together a variety of resources focused on diverting individuals and families away from the homelessness system by providing early intervention and support. It includes practical guides, case studies, and innovative approaches to prevent homelessness through community-based support, education, and policy reform. The collection is divided into subcategories including general, youth, and Indigenous populations.

National alliance to end Homelessness (NAEH)

• The Four C’s of Diversion Video (2 min, 2023)
• Improving Homelessness Response Systems Through Diversion and Problem Solving (Blog, 2022) – six key point and links to other resources
• Role of Emergency Shelter in Diversion – Webinar (2018) (90 min) Download Slides and tools:
  • Key Takeaways: The Role of Emergency Shelter in Diversion
  • Diversion Self-Assessment Action Plan

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)

• Prevention, Diversion and Rapid Exit Guide (2019) – developed collaboratively by the USICH, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Veterans Affairs this document clarifies the definitions for “prevention,” “diversion,” and “rapid exit.”

Youth Reconnect

• Youth Reconnect Training (Homelessness Learning Hub) – Online training on the Youth Reconnect program model for youth homelessness prevention for young people aged 13-24 at risk of homelessness. Includes 6 lessons, a quiz and certificate of completion.
• Youth Shelter Diversion and Youth Reconnect (Homeless Hub)
• Youth Reconnect Program Guide (Making the Shift, 2020) – a 29 page guide that describes the program, considerations for implementation, and highlights programs in practice. Youth Reconnect (YR) is a community-based early intervention program that is designed to help young people (ages 13-24) who are at risk of or in the early stages of homelessness by helping them to stay connected to their family, community and school, and to strengthen natural supports.
• Hamilton Youth Reconnect Program (Blog, June 2020)

Host Homes

• Respite Housing and Host Homes (Homeless Hub)
• Host Homes Handbook (Point Source Youth, 2024) – this 2018 resource was updated in 2024 and includes background, how to develop a strong Host Homes Team, resources to meaningfully engage hosts, and tools to sustain and evaluate the program.
• Host Homes and NightStop (Raising the Roof, 2020) – a website page that speaks to their past initiatives with host homes and a link to the 360 Kids NightStop Pilot Evaluation Report 
• Bridging the Gap – Host Homes Program (2019) – evaluation of the first Host Homes program in Ontario, operating in Halton Region for the past decade

• Niagara Region – Two Years of Shelter Diversion: Learnings and Lessons (2021)
• Edmonton – see webinar series below & 7 Cities Conference Presentation (2018) & 24/7 Crisis Diversion
• King County – Lessons in Family Homelessness Diversion (Building Change, 2021) – this nine page report summarizes 10 years of family shelter diversion work and includes five tips for implementing Diversion effectively within communities, and features stories and voices of those working in the field
• Waterloo Region – Prevention and Diversion Centralized Access Points – separate contacts and approaches for youth, single adults (couples) and families. For further information on the 24/7 access point for single adults (couples) see First Connect and this June 2022 webinar – recording and PDF. For further history on family diversion see the Family Shelter Diversion Pilot Report & 2 Page Summary (2015) & Raising the Roof Blog (2016) 
• Wellington-Guelph – Youth Homelessness Diversion One-Pager
• Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness – Shelter Diversion – includes a number of links to further information, tools and resources 
• Veteran’s Health Administration – Webinar Presentation – Using Conflict Resolution for Effective Prevention and Diversion (2016)
• Diversion Best Practices Presentation (2015 NAEH Conference) – FocusStrategies, Montgomery County, and Connecticut
• Summary of Diversion Practices from Other Communities (Abt Associates 2015) – Hennepin County, Los Angeles, Montgomery County, and Cleveland

• Brantford Diversion Questionnaire (2021) and How to Document Diversion in HIFIS Procedure (2021)
• End Homelessness St. John’s Coordinated Access Diversion Pre-Screener (2019)
• Hamilton – Shelter Diversion Flow Chart and Diversion Assessment Tool (2019)
• King County Diversion Services Self-Referral Form
• Peel Salvation Army Diversion Assessment (fillable Word version) (2018)
• Columbus Shelter Screening and Diversion Form (2016)
• Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness – Diversion Resources and Tools – website
• Georgia Prevention and Diversion Screening Tool (2017)

A new Diversion Module has been included with HIFIS v.60 released Oct 2023. 

ACRE produced this Shelter Diversion in HIFIS 4 Report (2021) to help inform the new Diversion module.

Currently available HIFIS 4 reports for HIFIS v. 59 (see these and other available reports at ACRE):

• • If you are using the Case Management module for diversion, one of these might be useful.
  • If you are using Turnaways for diversion, this one might be useful.
  • If you want to analyze clients returning to shelter multiple times, this one might be useful.

The following Diversion Webinar Series took place over May to June 2022:

• Webinar May 2022 – Introduction to the Diversion and Housing Loss Prevention Guide – Recording (60 min) and PDF. Iain De Jong of OrgCode provides an overview of their recently released Diversion and Housing Loss Prevention Guide (2022) – a 40 page guide with information, practical steps and case studies. 
• Community of Practice Call June 2022 – Diversion in Practice  – Recording (60 min) and PDF – Waterloo Region shares information about First Connect – a team offering 24/7 diversion and prevention support across the Region. The webinar also kicks off with an update on two Canadian diversion research studies.

Prevention and Diversion During COVID:

• Diversion & Prevention Amidst COVID-19 (OrgCode, May 2020) –  Recording (90 min) & PDF Presentation

The following Diversion Webinar Series took place over April – June 2018: