Shelter Volunteer’s Expectations & Responsibilities
To ensure the safety of our guests, hosts, and support organization volunteers
Shelter Volunteer’s Expectations & Responsibilities
Expectations
- To provide a warm, safe, and caring environment for individuals and families who are homeless. To help the homeless of Tioga County regain the dignity and independence they deserve. Many of the following guidelines will be a collective effort between the Tioga County Homeless Initiative Board of Directors, the volunteers. The success of this ministry is achieved by the cooperation and support of the community.
- As people of God, He has called us to be His hands in the world. He has called us to love others as He has loved us and to “do for others as we would have done for us.” Matthew 25:40, “insomuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my children, you have done it unto me.”
Responsibilities
- In conjunction with TCHI the support churches and organizations, we provide a serve evening meal and provide breakfast provisions
- In conjunction with the designated support churches and organizations, ensure continuous, adult supervision is provided during the hours of 5:00-9:00pm
- Keep the shelter secure by allowing registered guests in the shelter, a current list with picture book of all register guest is provided by the Director of Operations.
- If someone shows up at the shelter that is not a currently registered guest, advise them to contact the TCHI ‘hotline’ (570 439 9383),the Director of Operations or any member of the TCHI Board of Directors for assistance. Allow them the uses of the shelter phone to make the call.
- Document the events of the night in the log book at the shelter (even if it was an uneventful night – please document it in the log book)
- If a situation arises (i.e., a guest not following the shelter guidelines, etc…), if the volunteers are comfortable with trying to peacefully resolve the issue they should try to do so, if they are not comfortable with this they should immediately contact the Director of Operations and/or any TCHI Board member, with either method of resolution the host volunteers should document the event in the log book at the shelter
Support Volunteers Expectations & Responsibilities
Expectations
- To provide support to the shelter and Host Organization with the goal of providing a warm, safe, and caring environment for individuals and families who experience homelessness. To help the homeless of Tioga County regain the dignity and independence that they deserve. Many of the following guidelines will be a collective effort between the Tioga County Homeless Initiative Board of Directors, the Host Organization, and the network of volunteers. The success of this ministry will only be achieved through the cooperation and support of the community.
- As people of God, He has called us to be His hands in the world. He has called us to love others as He has loved us and to “do for others as we would have done for us.” Matthew 25:40, “insomuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my children, you have done it unto me.”
Responsibilities
- To help provide transportation for the guests staying at the shelter to off the bus route to appointments (i.e., medical appointments, to the Day Center, to Housing appointments, to job interviews, etc…)
- To help provide supplies for the shelter (i.e., toilet paper, soap, etc…)
- To help provide continuous, in-kind or gifts support
Guest Expectations & Responsibilities
Expectations
- Respect yourself, respect staff and volunteers, and respect other guests. These expectations and responsibilities are in place to keep order and not to restrict your independence. They are also in place to protect other guests and to keep your stay as safe and secure as possible.
Responsibilities
- No one will be admitted to the shelter or allowed on the shelter’s property who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, any type of illegal drug or alcohol is strictly forbidden while under the care of the TCHI
- Weapons (i.e., guns, knives, etc…) are not allowed in or near the Shelter.
- Verbal attacks toward any guest, staff, or any volunteer will not be tolerated
- Physical attacks in any form against any guest, staff, or any volunteer will not be tolerated
- If a guest is asked to leave the shelter or the property for violating any of these expectations and/or responsibilities and refuses to do so, the appropriate law enforcement agency will be contacted
- No animals are permitted in the shelter or on the property
- No visitors will be allowed in the shelter or on the property
- Children must be accompanied/attended to at all times by an adult
- No sleeping unclothed, appropriate sleeping clothing is required by all guests
- There is no smoking within the shelter, smoking will only be permitted in designated areas outside.
- The lights will be turned out at 11:00pm and turned on at 5:30am, every guest will be expected to depart from the shelter by 7:00am, only personal belongings that can fit under the guest’s bed in a closed bag or box can be left in the shelter.
- All guests must have a weekly shower or bath
- All guests must pick up after themselves, adult family members will be responsible for picking up after their children as well
- It is the responsibility of parents to get their children to school, TCHI will help in any way possible but the ultimate responsibility is with the parents
- All guests must stay in designated areas at all times
- Inappropriate physical contact will not be tolerated
- The Host Organization has the right to modify these responsibilities or add to them at their discretion. If they choose to do so, a copy of those modifications and/or additions will be provided to all guests upon their arrival at the shelter.