Protection and Shelter Rehabilitation in Mount Lebanon People with Specific Needs (PWSN), Girls and Women at risk, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex( LGBTI )individuals are among the most vulnerable groups, both among Syrian refugees and Lebanese host population. The proposed intervention aims to address these vulnerabilities, in line with Lebanon Crises Response Plan (LCRP) Priority: “Access to protection and services is ensured, the most vulnerable women, girls, boys and men are identified, and durable solutions realized.” This will be done through two main components of intervention, namely i) Shelter Intervention, and ii) Protection Intervention.
In the Shelter component, which has been endorsed by the sector and recommended to be presented under the Standard Allocation, the intervention aims to expand the scope of Persons with Specific Needs(PWSN) mobile protection services to include the elderly and disabled and provide vulnerable cases in need of shelter in Mount Lebanon with tailored shelter options (particularly PWSN, women and girls at risk and GBV survivors who are not eligible for safe shelter). The project will tailor different approaches based on case typology (sensitivity of the case such as GBV and persons discriminated against because of sexual orientation and gender identity) and shelter needs. Within INTERSOS existing caseload, highly vulnerable PWSN will be prioritized for shelter rehabilitation to be adapted to specific disabilities needs PWSN beneficiaries in need of shelter rehabilitation will be identified though lists shared by UNHCR as in the current shelter UNHCR funded project in ML. With regard to women and girls at risk and GBV survivors, INTERSOS will provide a shelter alternative to cases who do not meet the safe shelter criteria but are still in need of relocation. INTERSOS will identify and rehabilitate vacant Small Shelter Units (SSUs) in different locations in Mount Lebanon (ML) where there is high GBV caseload and provide survivors or women and girls at risk with free shelter accommodation INTERSOS Case Workers will follow up and conduct home visits in addition to referring cases to INTERSOS vocational trainings (UNHCR funded) to ensure –as an exit strategy-that survivors have an opportunity to become self-sufficient and are not forced to go back to situations of violence and abuse they escaped from for lack of livelihood opportunities. LGBTI, because of the sensitivity of their cases, will be supported through placement in individual SSUs and, for the most vulnerable, by provision of cash for rent for 6 months. INTERSOS will identify landlords who commit not to discriminate, exploit or evict cases because of sexual orientation, and conduct weekly monitoring follow up and home visits. The locations of the project across ML are selected according to the higher caseload in 2016 and 2017 of PWSN, GBV survivors and LGBTI. 
The protection component will enhance the protection of vulnerable individuals among people displaced from Syria and vulnerable Lebanese in ML. Specifically, two main outputs will respond to critical gaps identified in the field namely to i) reduce the risk and consequence of SGBV and improve access to quality services, particularly alternative shelter options in ML and ii) reduce the risk facing elderly and disabled and improve access to quality services in ML, including tailored shelter, physical therapy and Psycho-Social Support (PSS). The intervention will be implemented in complementarity with other programs funded UNHCR and UNICEF in ML, in continuity with the LHF funded project in ML, as well as with activities run by other actors, according to specialties and geographic coverage.
These two components will fill existing gaps in the Shelter and Protection sectors in ML, in particular in Aley, Baabda, Chouf and Metn, and will complement ongoing INTERSOS Programs funded by UNHCR, OCHA and UNFPA in the same districts.