No matter how much we develop our internal capacity, the American Red Cross cannot be everywhere at once. It would take years to develop the depth of relationship that some community organizations already have with the constituents they serve daily. Additionally, many of these organizations want to serve their communities in a broader way and look to the Red Cross as a resource to help them do so effectively. By partnering with and supporting agencies who share our commitment to serving disaster-affected communities, we can join our knowledge, resources and expertise with that of our partners in ways that will provide the best possible response and service to the people we both serve.

There are four basic sheltering models used by the American Red Cross.

Model 1. Red Cross Shelters – This is the traditional Red Cross shelter model where the Red Cross occupies a facility, plans, organizes, directs and controls every aspect of the Red Cross services provided at the shelter. 

Model 2. Red Cross / Partner Shelters – Very similar to traditional Red Cross shelters, the primary difference is that the majority of the volunteer staffing will come from the partner agency personnel. The partner agency’s staff will be qualified and trained by the Red Cross in advance, They will volunteer as a group under the administrative control and as a part of the Red Cross disaster relief operation. Partner agency personnel will be expected to operate the shelter as Red Cross volunteers, the Red Cross will plan, organize, direct and control the Red Cross services provided at the shelter. The shelter will be, therefore, under the administrative control of the Red Cross.

Model 3 . Red Cross Supported Shelters – Shelters where a community agency wishes to extend their services to their community as a part of their own mission while maintaining administrative control of their facilities and the services provided (meaning the community agency assumes responsibility for planning, organizing, directing and controlling every aspect of the shelter and the relief services provided). Along with administrative control comes the assumption of some of the liability and fiduciary responsibility for their operations. In this case, negotiated levels of financial, logistical, material or technical support by each party to the shelter will be provided based on previous negotiations, or negotiations at the time of the event. 

On average, reimbursement by the Red Cross should follow actual realized expenses not to exceed $15 per day per client sheltered. However, Red Cross will secure all possible donations and gifts in kind to supplement feeding and sheltering efforts.

Model 4. Independently Managed Shelters – The Red Cross seeks to support those shelters operated in accordance with Red Cross Fundamental Principles. Independently managed shelters are run by community agencies that have determined that they (1) want to retain administrative control of the activities related to the provision of shelter, (2) do not wish to abide by the Red Cross Disaster Code of Conduct and/or 3) may not want be supported by the Red Cross. Examples of such shelters include those opened in unsafe areas, those opened for specific groups to the exclusion of others, or those in which services depend on participation in or affiliation with the group’s specific guidelines, beliefs or norms.

However, on a case-by case basis, the Red Cross may decide to support independently managed shelters with the following resources: bulk distribution, casework, feeding, health services, and mental health as we would any community, provided that such support does not:

a. encourage the population to remain in unsafe areas,

b. cause the Red Cross to provide support to a shelter operated outside the Red Cross Fundamental Principles or,

c. imply such support is an endorsement by Red Cross of a specific group or organization and its activities.

Since the shelter operates independently, there typically will be no written agreement between the Red Cross and an Independently Managed Shelter.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
	Model 1	Model 2	Model 3	Model 4
	Red Cross Shelters	Red Cross / Partner Shelters	Red Cross Supported Shelters	Independently Managed Shelters
Administrative Control	Red Cross	Red Cross	Community Agency	Community Agency
Shelter Operations Expenses	Red Cross	Red Cross	Red Cross Assisted	Community Agency
Adheres to Disaster Code of Conduct	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Red Cross Branding	Red Cross Only	Co-logo “In Cooperation with…”	“Supported by Red Cross”	None
Liability	Shared	Shared	Shared	Community Agency
Reporting and Communication	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Agreement to Use	Standard Shelter Agreement	Standard Shelter Agreement	Shelter Support Services Agreement for Community Agencies	None

Send completed form to: American Red Cross, ATTN: Disaster Services, 1771 E Flamingo #206B, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Email us with your questions.

Click here for proof of Red Cross insurance coverage.