‘Even our physical buildings are f*cked’: navigating spatial shocks in women’s shelters during COVID-19 and recommendations for future resilience

COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way we use and view space across all sectors, including those servicing survivors of violence against women (VAW). The increase in prevalence and severity of VAW during this pandemic impacted an emergency residential shelter system that, in many jurisdictions, was chronically underfunded; the compounding effects of COVID-19 restrictions, such as bed capacity reductions and physical distancing requirements, significantly influenced how shelter space could be applied to support women and children experiencing violence. Using interpretive description methodology, 26 interviews were conducted with shelter staff, eight with women accessing shelter services, and five focus groups with 24 organizational leaders of VAW services in Ontario, Canada to understand the use of shelter spaces during the pandemic. Two main themes were identified in the data and explored: (1) are spaces working?; and (2) to change or not change a facility’s architectural configuration? Implications and recommendations for VAW shelter space design are discussed.