Policy Manual Including:
- Shelter purpose/mission
- Population served
- Program description
- Non-discrimination policy
- Confidentiality statement

DESCRIPTION OF BETHANY HOUSE SERVICES AS AN ORGANIZATION

MISSION STATEMENT
In response to the crisis of homelessness, Bethany House Services is a community of persons who are committed to quality emergency shelter, outreach advocacy, and transitional housing programs for women and children. Through comprehensive assistance programs, we seek to restore our participants' personal dignity and independence. We actively promote community response, legislative change, and the networking of resources which will provide creative solutions to the problems of homelessness in a holistic mode of empowerment.

HISTORY/OVERVIEW
Bethany House Services is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which was founded in 1983 to offer emergency shelter for homeless women and children. The organization has continued to provide emergency shelter and has developed additional assistance programs. These comprehensive services are offered to families living in poverty and adversely affected by the housing crisis currently experienced throughout the country. Volunteers are a vital part of the history and day-to-day mission and hospitality of Bethany House Services. People seeking to be involved in service for homeless persons are active participants in Bethany House Services' child care, reception/clerical duties, meal preparation, adult education and enrichment activities, committee and board services. Bethany House Services received over 8000 hours of donated services in 1991.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS
Emergency Shelter Program provides a safe, secure environment, supervised meals, child care volunteers, enrichment programs and laundry facilities for over 1000 homeless women and children annually. Access to the shelter is through a 24-hour-a-day referral/intake hotline. Through individual case management, each guest in the shelter receives housing counseling, transportation assistance, referrals for employment, financial assistance and necessary social services. Access to physical and mental health care professionals is available on site.

Community Outreach Program includes comprehensive follow-up and outreach assistance annually for approximately 400 former guests who have successfully completed the Shelter Program. The Outreach Program is designed to help formerly homeless women build the necessary skills to prevent repeat episodes of homelessness. Telephone advocacy, home visits, and office appointments with social service workers are available to the women for up to one year as they develop long-term plans for security and independence.

Bethany Housekeeping Basics provides furnishings and essential household items to approximately 400 individuals and families who have successfully completed the Shelter Program. The program includes a community service component of two hours for each family receiving assistance since this is primarily a volunteer operation.

Housing Advocacy Project provides an opportunity to formerly homeless women to come together for education, action, support, and information about the issues of poverty and housing that they face. It serves as a forum for positive energy and action in the community.

Transitional Housing Program provides affordable housing, supportive services and individualized case management assistance to 12 families at risk of becoming homeless again. The program focuses on building independence and security through education and job training.

Child/Parent Program focuses on the special emotional, physical, and relational needs of over 600 homeless children in crisis annually. The program is designed to prevent neglect and abuse of the children through the implementation of the Parenting Plus curriculum with the mothers, weekly support groups, and children's enrichment sessions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The continued expansion of services and additions of new programs related to housing needs has been possible through the faithful support of many benefactors and a variety of funding sources: gifts of individuals, churches, schools, service organizations, corporations, and grants from foundations and from the city, state and federal governments.

The partnerships Bethany House Services has been able to develop have provided other dimensions of support through the use of buildings and facility space without charge or market-rate rental expenses:

• Tom Geiger House owns and manages an apartment building in the Walnut Hills area, and makes available six apartments at a discounted rental for Bethany House Services' Transitions participants.

Beginning operation in 1983 with a grant of $15,000 secured during the first year of service, Bethany House Services has grown in service capability and multiple programs to an annual operating budget of approximately $600,000 for the year of 1992.

1991 SERVICE STATISTICS
The numbers reflect individuals served by the program and not the repeated instances of service.

Emergency Shelter: 1025 Transitional Housing: 52

Outreach Advocacy: 413 Housekeeping Basics: 392

The Dayton District Council of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul established the St. Vincent Hotel for the homeless of the Dayton area and surrounding environs. Its mission is to provide emergency overnight shelter services to homeless men, women and dependent children during the period of their crises in order to assist them in regaining their rightful place in the community. All are served regardless of race, color, creed. age, or sex.

This mission springs from the values and criteria of the Gospel and it is intended chat these values and criteria be promoted so that the St. Vincent Hotel might become a visible sign of Christ and give witness to His love which reaches out to all people and draws them to love one another through Him.

Therefore:

1. The Council, as a matter of policy, has chosen to staff the Hotel with a core staff of professional religious and laity in the specific expectation that they bring an added dimension - that of Christian love - to the guests of the Hotel who are so woefully in need of chat love.

2. Staff and volunteers alike will treat the guests with the dignity and respect which is their due as children of God the Father and sisters and brothers in Christ in order to convince them of their importance as individuals and thereby to improve their self-image and restore their self-respect.

3. The physical plant is maintained at a clean, hygienic and orderly level in keeping with concepts of human dignity.

4. Ancillary services conducive to and supportive of physical and mental hygiene are provided. Among these are counseling, distributions of free clothing, limited medical attention offered by volunteer doctors and nurses and purchasing of prescription medicines.

(A) Purpose.
The purpose of this policy is to provide a standard of non-discrimination regarding provision of services for individuals served in compliance with Civil Rights Acts of federal and state governments and pursuant to other agency policies and as acknowledged by all staff by signed statements of understanding and compliance with Civil Rights Laws.

(B) Definition.
"Ineligible for service" means for the purpose of this policy, that the individual presents a substantial risk of harm to self or others, or that the level of care required substantially exceeds the program or staffing capacity at the shelter.

(C) Friends of the Homeless, Inc. shall provide services to clients without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, handicapping condition, sex, age, or sexual preference.

(1) Exceptions.
Exceptions to this policy shall be limited to the following:

(a) Segregation of men and women shall be permitted at the shelter for obvious reasons;

(b) The men's floors are not readily accessible to the physically handicapped. Male clients whose physical disabilities prevent safe and functional use of the upper floors shall be -referred to other shelters having accessible space for male clients;

(c). Persons below the age of 18 are ineligible for services;

(d) Services to a client may be denied or curtailed if the individual is ineligible for services due to the client's physical or mental condition or behavior (see policy on Service, Requirements, and Expectations).

Effective: 01/12/89
Enacted by the executive director: 01/12/89

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/DISCRIMINATION

Policy
The Mission will offer its services to all persons in need, regardless of their sex, religion, race, color, age, sexual preference or national origin.

Rationale
The Mission believes that discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, race, color, age, sexual preference or national origin is in direct conflict with the Mission's Judeo-Christian goals and purposes. Therefore, the Mission will endeavor to serve all persons who seek assistance and will establish and implement consistent policies and practices so that all types of discrimination are eliminated. It should be noted, however, that the Mission is not handicap-accessible nor is the Mission a hospital, nursing home or convalescent center. Hence, it may be necessary to refuse services to persons who are not ambulatory or who are too ill or infirm to care for themselves.

Implementation
1. The Mission will implement all its rules and policies in a consistent fashion.
2. Persons who feel that they have been discriminated against because of their sex, religion, race, color, age, sexual preference or nation origin can utilize the grievance procedure to redress their complaints. See the policy entitled "Grievances."

CONFIDENTIALITY

Rationale
The Mission respects the right of every person, housed or unhoused, to have privacy. The Mission also understands funders need statistical information in order to provide financial assistance. Therefore, all information which may serve to identify a specific client/guest will be treated confidential information, unless previously released by the client/guest.

Implementation
1. Non-identifying demographic information will be provided to funders with or without the permission of the client/guest.

2. Other information will be released after the client/guest has given written permission. The Mission will likely request that all client/guest sign a general release of information upon their admission. The release will merely enable Mission staff to use the information in order to obtain services for the client/guest. The release will not permit the Mission to release the information to other client/guests or other individuals.

3. In the event of an emergency, the Mission will provide any information needed by medical personnel to treat a client/ guest.

4. If the police, the sheriff's department or another enforcement agency needs information on a client/guest who is suspected of committing a crime, the Mission will cooperate with these agencies so that a greater measure of safety is afforded to the other client/guests of the Mission.

CONDUCT
Employees are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Judeo-Christian principles of Faith Mission/Faith Housing and to act in the best interests of the agency and its client/tenants.

Employees are expected to behave professionally while on agency property, in agency vehicles or while conducting agency business, regardless of whether they are "on duty." Any time an employee is on agency property, he/she is a representative of the agency and must abide by all employment and agency policies and practices. If an employee violates any agency or employment policy while on agency property but while "off duty," the disciplinary action will be the same as if the incident occurred when the employee was on duty.

CONFIDENTIALITY
Some employees will become privy to confidential information about client/tenants or about the agency. Such information is to remain confidential and should not be discussed with other employees or client/tenants. Any employee using confidential or sensitive information about client/tenants in an inappropriate or harmful manner will be counseled against future such behavior. Breach of confidentiality regarding agency business, finances, other sensitive information by an employee will result in the employee's termination.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
Employees who contract a communicable disease which can be transmitted through casual contact should and may be required to take a medical leave until the period of contagion passes and the employee can return to full employment. The agency President may require the employee to take such a leave in order to safeguard the health of other staff members and client/tenants. This decision will be -based on medical information provided by the employee's physician or by another medical authority selected by the agency. Verification of the employee's restored health status will be required before the employee will be permitted to return to work.

Employees who contract a communicable disease which cannot be transmitted through casual contact will be permitted to remain on the job until and unless the condition renders them unable to perform required job responsibilities. When this occurs, the employee may request a medical leave. Prior to returning to work, the employee's physician (or other medical authority selected by the agency) must provide written verification of the employee's restored health status. If the condition renders the employee unable to perform his/her job responsibilities on a permanent basis, the employee must be terminated.

CRIMINAL ACTIVITIY
Con-mission of a crime by an employee while on agency property, in agency vehicles or while on agency business will result in the immediate termination of the employee. This includes but is not limited to: possessing/using/selling drugs; theft of agency property, or that of other employees or client/tenants; assaulting another individual; carrying/using weapons; gambling.

POLICY:

In all circumstances, information about guests will be treated in a careful and confidential manner respecting the privacy and needs of the individual guest. Discussion among staff members regarding guests will be conducted with discretion and in an appropriate place.

It is a breach of guest confidentiality to dicusss a guest's care (including identity, forwarding address, etc.) with persons outside Bethany House Services except law enforcement personnel, appropriate outside agency representatives or health care personnel unless a release to communicate such information has been obtained.

The name of another guest should not appear in a particular women's file.

To protect the confidentiality of guests, when staff or volunteers answer the guests phone extensions, the greeting should be "hello" rather than the identification of the agency usually used when answering offices extension lines

PURPOSE:

- To reflect a continuing respect and concern for the dignity and well-being for each guest served by Bethany House Services Shelter

Approved ________________

Title: Executive Director

Date: 6 / 19 /90

(A) Purpose.
The purpose of this policy shall be to establish an agency-wide attitude of confidentiality for all staff, volunteers, and board members.

(B) Intent.
The intent of this policy is to protect sensitive information such as work-related issues and agency information of a confidential nature.

(C) "Confidential information" means information pertaining to any agency plans, decisions, business dealings completed, anticipated, or in process which are not made public intentionally or that would not reasonably be made public by either the administrative team, the board of trustees, or the agency public information committee. Confidential information may include, but is not limited to:

(1) Client records and information written or otherwise known as a result of a person's position of trust within the agency or accidentally discovered;

(2) Personal including personnel-related information
such as salaries, disciplinary actions, garnishment and child support actions, and grievances;

(3) Agency contracts or projects in development that must be kept confidential until certain points in the development stage; and

(4) Agency financial affairs except matters of public record.

(D) Client confidentiality shall be kept pursuant to the "Confidentiality Policy" developed in 1989.

(E) No staff, volunteer, or board member shall reveal confidential information with family, friends, media, community leaders, or anyone outside of the agency, nor shall they reveal such information within the agency except with the persons charged with the responsibility for such information.

(F) Questions of confidentiality should be addressed with the executive director or the person the executive director identifies as appropriate for determining which issues are confidential matters

Effective: 02/22/89
Approved by the board: 02/18/89
Enacted by the executive director: 02/22/89

Was your stay at the shelter helpful to you? Why or why not?

After your stay at the shelter, has anything changed in your life? If so, what? Are there other changes you would like to make?

How can the shelter services be improved for future residents? We would appreciate your suggestions.

What community resources do you feel will be helpful to you as you leave?

What is your new address? Phone number?

Any other comments:

Thank you for your input. Good Luck!!

Signature ______________________________

Date____________________________

RESIDENT EXIT QUESTIONNAIRE

1. In what areas were you helped while at the shelter?

Emergency clothing	Emotional Support	Legal assistance
Child/parent skills	Community referrals	Job training/skills
Other _____________________________________________________________________________________

2. In general, how would you rate the programs in which you participated while at the shelter?

Individual Conferences Excellent Good Fair Poor Nutrition/Cooking Excellent Good Fair Poor

Parenting (if applicable) Excellent Good Fair Poor Substance abuse (if applicable) Excellent Good Fair Poor

3. How helpful did you find the staff and/or volunteers?
Very	Somewhat	Not very
4. In general is the atmosphere friendly and pleasant?
Very	Somewhat	Not very

5. Would you recommend the shelter to a friend in need?

Yes
No (please explain:__________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Are there any suggestions you have to help improve the shelter?

Yes
No (please explain:__________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What other programs would you like to see provided by the shelter?

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Are there other comments you wish to make?

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

I am moving out of the shelter as of: ______________________________________________

I am moving to:

___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ____________________________________________________________________

I have cleaned my room, returned all linens, etc. to the appropriate area and have filled out the resident questionnaire. I have also filled out a change of address card and notified the welfare office/social security of my new address

All medications and valuables have been returned to me.

_________________________________ Resident signature ______________________________ Date

_________________________________ Staff signature