What are these rules for?
When staying in the Rapid Shelter Track of EA Family Shelter, you must follow these rules.
These rules keep you and others safe while in the shelter. They will help guide your family and explain how staff can help you during your stay.
You must follow these rules. If you do not, we may tell your family to leave shelter if you repeatedly break the rules. We may also tell your family to leave if you break the rules in a serious way.
What is required while staying in EA Family Shelter?
You must follow the rules to stay on track with the goals of the EA Family Shelter program. One of the goals is to start looking for permanent housing options. To learn more about these goals, visit What is EA Family Shelter.
Below are the steps you can expect while staying in EA Family Shelter (individual cases may vary):
Enter Shelter
Arrive at your shelter location
Follow shelter rules
Follow the rules
Create a plan to find your new home
Work with the shelter staff to make a plan to find a new home
Follow the steps in your plan
Follow the steps you made to find a new home and meet with staff once a month
Successfully find new housing
Leave shelter and move into your permanent home
Introduction
- The Rapid Track Shelter Program Rules apply to shelters in the Rapid Shelter Track which are called Temporary Respite Centers (TRCs).
- If you do not understand all the rules, ask a staff member to read and explain them to you.
- Staff will keep a written record of any times you violate the rules and can provide you with written copies of the violation record if you request.
- You and your children can be asked to leave immediately if anyone in your family:
- Breaks the law on-site
- Threatens the health or safety of yourself or others at the site
- Engages in sexual harassment
- Engages in violent behavior, child abuse, or neglect
- Brings weapons to the site
- You and your children can also be asked to leave if you violate these rules three times in other ways.
- Some rules violations can be excused for “good cause” but not every good reason will necessarily count as “good cause.” Examples of good cause include work or school schedules and medical or other emergencies.
1. Searches of Belongings
Provider staff is allowed to search a guest’s bags or belongings under the following conditions:
- if they have reasonable suspicion of a weapon or contraband in the guest’s possession
- if the site is having issues with rodents and therefore must ensure that no outside food is being kept in living areas
2. Babysitting/Child Care
This rule applies only to babysitting at the Temporary Respite Center.
- Another Temporary Respite Center guest aged 16 or older may babysit your child(ren) if they complete the appropriate child care form which the Temporary Respite Center staff can provide.
- Children 14 or older can babysit for themselves and their younger household members if they have permission from Temporary Respite Center staff or for good cause, such as an emergency.
3. Care of Children
Adults need to provide appropriate care for the children in the household. This includes supervising play activities, ensuring school attendance, as appropriate, and proper feeding and rest.
4. Child Left Unattended
You may not leave your children alone and unattended at any time unless allowed by the rules. This means that your children cannot be out of your presence, sight or hearing for even a few moments unless they are with an authorized babysitter. Children 16 or older may visit with others in the common area of the site if they are authorized to babysit themselves, or if an adult caretaker is on the property or can be easily reached by telephone or in person.
5. Curfew
You must return to the Temporary Respite Center by the set curfew time unless you have good cause.
6. Damage to Property and Expenses
You may not damage Temporary Respite Center property. If you damage or remove any property, you may need to pay for the damage.
7. Disturbance of Quiet Enjoyment
You may not take any action that seriously disturbs other families in the site.
8. Fire Safety and Smoking
You may not smoke, vape, use any fire hazards (including candles, incense, or unauthorized cooking equipment), or disable smoke detectors inside any Temporary Respite Center. You are only permitted to smoke in the designated smoking area outside the building or off-campus. Additionally, if you are on-site, you are required to participate in all fire evaluation drills or events.
9. Harassing or Threatening Language
You may not harass or threaten other residents, service provider staff, state staff, security staff, or others on the site. If you do, you and your family can be asked to leave immediately.
10. Illegal Activity
Any activity that violates any state, federal or local law is not allowed on Temporary Respite Center property. If anyone in your family breaks the law at the site, you and your family can be asked to leave immediately.
11. Legal Issues
You must tell staff about outstanding warrants, restraining orders, and other court orders.
12. Overnights
Every member of your family must stay at the site after check-in each evening unless you get advance approval from staff or have good cause, such as a medical emergency.
13. Personal Belongings and Cleanliness of Room
You must keep your area clean and neat. Each person can only have the equivalent of two large suitcase or duffle bag of possessions in any site.
14. Pets
You can only have documented service animals or other animals allowed by the Americans with Disabilities Act on Temporary Respite Center property. No other pets or animals of any kind are allowed.
15. Prescription Medication
All prescription medications need to be properly stored. They should be used only by the person who was prescribed the medications. They should not be available to children or other residents. You must tell Temporary Respite Center staff if any of your medications need refrigeration and staff will then help you find a safe place to keep your medications. If you do not have a safe or other lockable storage, please work with the staff to find another safe place to keep the medications.
16. Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment of anyone on Temporary Respite Center property is not allowed. If anyone in your family sexually harasses anyone at the site, you and your family can be asked to leave immediately. If a member of your family is harassed in any way by another guest or staff member, please inform the provider immediately.
17. Substance Use
Alcohol, marijuana not prescribed by a medical doctor, or any controlled substance is not allowed on Temporary Respite Center property. Even having an unopened bottle of alcohol is not allowed. Using alcohol or controlled substances off-site is not allowed if they cause you to cause problems at the Temporary Respite Center.
18. Violent Behavior & Child Abuse and Neglect
Violent behavior, child abuse, or neglect is not allowed. Physical discipline of your children is not allowed. You and your family may be asked to leave immediately if any of this happens while you are at the site.
19. Visitors/Guests
You may never have a visitor at the Temporary Respite Center site.
20. Weapons
Weapons are not allowed on site. Firearms are never allowed even if they are lawfully registered. If anyone in your family brings a weapon to the site, you and your family may be asked to leave immediately.
21. Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form
- Family members 18 years old or older must sign a CORI Acknowledgement Form. The family may be terminated from shelter if they don’t sign a CORI Acknowledgement Form.
Violation of Temporary Respite Center Rules
You must follow all rules. Temporary Respite Center staff can help if you have questions about these rules.
During your stay in the Temporary Respite Center, it is important that you follow all of the rules. Breaking these rules will result in your removal from the Temporary Respite Center.