Warm for Winter: Shelter Winterization for Vulnerable Refugee and Jordanian Households Vulnerable Jordanian and Syrian families living in sub-standard housing units and lacking financial resources to carry out fixing and maintenance works face heightened vulnerabilities in winter season. According to Caritas-collected data on 25,000 households (HH) in 2018, 42% of Syrian households (HHs) lack heating, 74% of shelters are inadequate for winter and 69% of shelters are inadequate to maintain the health of their members.

Through this project, Caritas will assist 435 HHs in Amman, Irbid, Mafraq, Madaba and Zarqa, 70% Syrian and 30% Jordanian, who 1) live in sub-standard shelters in urgent need for winterization, 2) present high debt and monthly expenditure per capita and 3) whose hardship is compounded by additional vulnerabilities (cf. Description of Beneficiaries). In each governorate, Caritas has established centres with previous experience in shelter maintenance. The caseload is distributed across these centres to ensure needs-based and timely implementation.

The selection of HHs starts by analysing vulnerability assessment framework (VAF) data captured through Caritas centres’ outreach work in the 5 targeted governorates in the past 3 months (around 3,500 HHs assessed) to identify HHs that fit the selection criteria. Referrals from the Working Groups or the Ministry of Social Development can be included. A gender-balanced team of 1 caseworker and 1 field monitor per centre/governorate (10 staff members total, based at the respective centres) will conduct home visits to confirm eligibility and winter shelter upgrade needs. Technical staff (1 engineer, 2 technical assistants) confirms the HHs’ selection and signs off on the works to be carried out.

Based on previous experience, Caritas will conduct one bidding processes per governorate to identify one suitable contractor per governorate (5 in total). In each bidding process, contractors will be invited to submit offers based on tender documents and bills of quantities and are selected based on a minimum of 3 offers from 3 different contractors.

For each shelter, technical staff agrees in writing with tenants, owners and contractors on the prospective maintenance works. A full-time legal advisor will support negotiations with property owners to secure tenure for all shelters for at least 1 year and reducing the monthly rent by 10% in line with the shelter sector guidelines, if applicable. During the upgrades, caseworkers and monitors will conduct spot checks and avail themselves for questions, complaints and other feedback. They also distribute booklets with information on tenants’ rights and obligations and give an appropriate introduction to the targeted HHs. Technical staff conducts a technical acceptance check in the presence of all stakeholders, following which invoices can be submitted by the contractor. Lastly, a survey to understand satisfaction rates, protection concerns, and unintended negative effects will be conducted. All afore-mentioned activities are documented and checked (cf. Monitoring and Reporting Plan).

Caritas will enable families to cope by upgrading basic shelter infrastructure through the following activities:

1-	Repairing windows and doors that do not close properly
2-	Replacing doors and windows that cannot be repaired or installing new ones in those households that lack doors or windows
3-	Treating leakages from ceilings or walls through plastering or use of special sealants inside the homes or on the roof of households
4-	Installing water boilers to enable families to have hot water during winter ensuring connection to hot water by replacing or installing needed pipes or minimal electrical installation works for the boilers
5-	Painting walls with excessive mould providing families with targeted information on how to prevent mould formation
6-	Securing connections of heaters to electricity
7-	Other maintenance works that will be determined during home visits.