SHELTER OVERVIEW

Purpose: To provide a safe and warm environment for men, women, and children. To provide hope through Jesus Christ to those in need.

Dates of Operation for the Winter Season: October 2018 – April 2019
7 days a week

Sign-In Times: 6 pm –7 pm, nightly
Call Sandi Wiscott, Director of Operations: 410-739-7859

Location: Kent Island United Methodist Church
2739 Cox Neck Road,  Chester, MD  21619
Near corner of Cox Neck Road and Rte. 50

Volunteers Provided By These Churches and Community Members:
Calvary United Methodist Church
Centreville United Methodist Church
Christ Episcopal Church
Faith Unity Church
First Baptist Church
Island Alliance Church
Kent Island United Methodist Church
Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church
Wye Parish
St. Christopher’s Catholic Church
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
NewUnited Methodist Church
Wye Bible Church
Wye of Carmichael United Methodist Church

OVERVIEW OF SHELTER SCHEDULE

Rules are subject to change as per the Board of Directors.

Sign in – 6:00-7:00 pm
All in need of shelter are required to sign in by 7 pm. If a work schedule does not permit one to sign in by 7 pm, the Director of Operations must be notified before 4 pm on that day. Shelter will be limited to 10 guests per night.  Some overflow space may be provided.

Dinner – 7:00 pm
Volunteers will provide dinner. Dinner volunteers stay and eat with shelter guests and help with clean up.

Leisure – 8:00-10:00 pm
Shelter guests will relax to games, books, and appropriate TV programs. Children will be encouraged to complete homework. Programs may be offered at this time, such as support group meetings, Bible studies, etc. Guests will be given toiletries and towels to wash up in the bathroom.

Lights Out – 10:00 pm
Guests sleep in the sleeping area or remain awake in the TV room until 1 am.

Sleeping and Monitoring – 6:00 pm – 6: 30 am
Shelter guests can sleep once the sleeping room is available. If guests choose to stay awake, they must remain in the TV room. Overnight monitors will be on duty throughout the night.

Wake up Call, Cleaning, and Departure – 6:30 am-7: 30 am
After the wake-up call at 6:30 am, everyone is to ready themselves for the day, eat breakfast, and clean personal sleeping areas. The eating areas and bathrooms are to be cleaned. A bagged lunch will be given to every guest before leaving the shelter. The building and all surrounding property must be vacated by 7:30 am.

OVERVIEW OF VOLUNTEER DUTIES

Volunteers Will Perform The Following Duties:
6 pm – 12 am Sign-In Shift:
(Shelter staff perform breathalyzer tests.)
(Shelter staff signs in shelter guests by completing Haven Ministries daily information sheets. Paperwork will be filed and maintained daily.)
Eat and socialize with guests. Programs may be offered to guests, such as Bible studies and support groups.
Help prepare and clean up dinner.
Prepare guests for lights out.
Enforce lights-out policy in the sleeping area at 10 pm. Guests can remain awake in the TV room until 1 am.
Monitor guests and facility from 6 pm – 12 am.

12 am – 7:30 am Overnight Shift
Monitor guests throughout the night by periodically walking through the sleeping area.

Wake up call at 6:30 am
Serve breakfast.
Oversee clean up: cots, bedding, and personal items to be removed to designated storage areas.
Floor and eating areas must also be swept and cleaned.
Bathrooms must be cleaned.
All guests and volunteers are to leave shelter by 7:30 am.
All doors must be locked.

Meal Coordinators
Meal Coordinator works with a group of volunteers to provide dinner every night by 7 pm. (Preparation for dinner can begin at 6 pm.)
Organize food for a simple breakfast every morning.
Provide items for bagged lunches (for guests to take with them every morning).
Provide individually wrapped snacks and drinks.
Check in with Volunteer Coordinator.
Each church should create a list of alternate volunteers to help if someone is sick or does not show for duty. Lists should include at least 5 people.

Church Coordinators
Oversee all volunteers and assist with shelter operations for all assigned shelter nights.
Must be present every day of scheduled week to check with volunteers. Church coordinator is not required to stay the entire duration of shelter hours.
Must check in at beginning of every sign-in shift: 6 pm.
Reports to Director of Operations about problems and overall shelter issues. Communicate with Volunteer Coordinator regarding volunteers.

Director Of Operations

• Oversees all shelter operations and church coordinators.
• Performs hiring, training, and oversight of shelter staff.
• Responsible for overall shelter procedures, policies, and public relations.
• Director of Operations will be on call if problems arise, and she will work with church coordinators and community resources to solve any issues.
• Oversees saliva and urine drug tests when deemed necessary.
• Periodically checks inventory, and will purchase items for shelter when necessary.
• Reports monthly to Haven Ministries.
• Works with Volunteer Coordinator regarding volunteers.
• Represents Haven Ministries at community events and meetings.
• Develops and oversees individualized plans -of-action with each guest.
• Completes interview and paperwork with each guest and suggests programs and plans.

Executive Director

• Oversees all shelter operations and the activities of the Director of Operations.
• Responsible for overall shelter procedures, policies, and public relations.
• Report monthly to Haven Ministries.
• Responsible for Haven Ministries’ budget and legal matters.
• Responsible for grant writing and oversight of grant awards.
• Oversees marketing and development activities.
• Represents Haven Ministries at community events and meetings.

Senior Staff Coordinator (If Applicable)

• Assists Director of Operations with emergency situations if Director of Operations requests help.
• Assists with hiring, training, and oversight of shelter staff.
• Assists with responsibilities of overall shelter procedures and policies. The Senior Staff Coordinator will work with staff, church coordinators, and community resources to solve any issues.
• Oversees saliva and urine drug tests when deemed necessary.
• Reports daily to the Director of Operations.

Volunteer Coordinator

• Contact coordinators via email with periodic updates.
• Contact coordinators prior to scheduled shelter dates via email and phone.
• Background checks of volunteers.
• Greet all volunteers at shelter, complete paperwork, complete trainings (6-8 pm).
• Develop a positive relationship with all volunteers, follow up with emails and notes.
• Connect volunteers to Executive Director and other Haven Ministries’ programs.
• Increase volunteer participation through community involvement.
• Increase church participation.
• Help develop volunteer list for emergency dates.
• Conduct trainings for shelter in community.
• Develop Shelter Schedule.

Overview of Haven Ministries Board of Directors Responsibilities

• Establish & Monitor Policies and Procedures for all Haven Ministries’ programs.
• Develop and monitor budget.
• Hold training sessions for all volunteers to review process of shelter, rules, and emergency responses.
• Hold community meetings when deemed necessary.
• Compensate Kent Island United Methodist Church for use of their facility.

HAVEN MINISTRIES SHELTER HOUSE RULES

Children

• All children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
• All children ages birth-17 years old must be supervised at all times by a parent or legal guardian.

Health

• Guests must report illness to staff person on duty.
• Guests must report food and medicine allergies to volunteers and staff.
• Individuals must wash clothing and sheets weekly. Laundry vouchers will be provided.

Drugs And Alcohol
Guests may not enter, at any time, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or with either in their possession. Daily, alcohol breathalyzer tests will be conducted at shelter location. If a guest is determined to be under the influence, or in possession of alcohol or drugs, the guest will be required to gather his/her possessions and leave the shelter immediately.

Guests must undergo random, urine and/or saliva drug tests and breathalyzer tests when deemed necessary by shelter monitors. Urine and saliva drug tests will be visually supervised byHaven Ministries staff as they oversee the urine stream and saliva into the drug testing kit.

Sex Offenders
All guests will be checked for sex offenses. No guest will be allowed to stay who has been accused or charged with any sex offense.
Registry to be checked daily.

Criminal History
I give permission for the Director of Operations and Haven Home staff to receive a criminal history from the appropriate officials, such as the Sheriff’s Department, Police Departments, websites, etc. if deemed necessary.

Personal Belongings Search
I give permission for the Director of Operations and staff to search my clothing, car, and my personal belongings upon first entering the shelter and when deemed necessary thereafter.

Smoking

• No smoking is permitted ANYWHERE inside the building, including bathrooms and entryways. A smoking area will be provided outside.
• No smoking is permitted after 9 pm.
• Maximum amount of smoking time is 5 minutes.
• Smoking at designated times only.
• Smoking area will be monitored.

Cell Phones And Electronics

• Cell phone use including texting is to occur in the smoking area only.
• No cell phones allowed in the bathroom.
• Cell phone conversations to be kept to 5 minutes maximum.
• Cell phones must be on vibrate at all times.
• No cell phone use after 9 pm. All cell phones will be collected at 9 pm and charged at this time. All cell phones will be given back to guests in the morning.
• Cell phone privileges will be revoked if cell phone conversations are loud, abusive, offensive, etc.
• No computers and/or electronics are to be used in the shelter by guests.

Weapons

• No weapons of any kind are permitted in the shelter. No violent behavior of any kind will be tolerated. Police will be called if there is any evidence of violence.

Behavior

• The staff reserves the right to deny admittance to any person whose behavior is deemed unsuitable.
• This is a group setting. Shelter guests are asked to be considerate of other guests and keep noise and voice tones at reasonable levels.
• Guests must not use profane language.
• Guests must treat all volunteers, staff, and other guests with respect and courtesy.
• No intimate contact such as hugging, cuddling, kissing, etc.
• Since guests represent Haven Home, shelter guests will conduct themselves appropriately regarding language, behavior, etc. in the community. If complaints are received by area business workers and/or community members, the guests can be asked to leave and denied admittance for the remaining shelter season.

Shelter Structure

• Sign in time is from 6-7 pm. Guests are not to report to the shelter before 6 pm or after 7 pm.
• Guests must remain in the shelter after checking in. No one will be allowed to leave the shelter without prior approval of the Director of Operations.
• No food or drink is to be brought into any area of the shelter including the sleeping area.
• Supply closet is not to be used at any time by guests.
• Guests with vehicles are not permitted to return to cars for any reason until departure in the morning.
• Guests are not permitted to allow anyone into the shelter.
• Lights out at 10 pm. Sleeping only in sleeping area. If guests remain awake, they must stay in TV room.
• Wake up call at 6:30 am, and must vacate shelter and its surrounding property by 7:30 am. If a guest must leave earlier than 7:30 am, permission must be granted from the Director of Operations 24 hours in advance.
• Shelter guests must leave the property via their own vehicle, Haven Ministries’ vehicle, or transportation approved by Director of Operations. No one is to walk off premises.
• Must remain on female and male side of shelter from 10 pm – 6:30 am.
• TV programs and videos must be PG and G ratings only. If any material is found offensive, programs will be terminated.
• Guests and volunteers must remain in shelter areas only, unless permission is granted by the Director of Operations to attend church, Bible studies, etc.: TV room, sleeping area, smoking area, and bathrooms outside of sleeping area. No wandering around the building will be tolerated.

Request Help
All needs of guests must be directed to the Director of Operations. No volunteer or other staff member is to be approached at any time for any needs or requests outside of normal shelter provisions. Violation of this rule is deemed as harassment and can result in removal from shelter for the season.

Clean Areas

• Bathrooms are to be left clean, neat, and orderly at all times. All guests will clean the bathrooms periodically.
• Each guest must maintain a clean, neat sleeping area.
• All guests must help to clean eating areas after each meal.

Belongings

• Storage on site is limited to only one bin per person. Bins are stored in an unsecured area. No valuables whatsoever can be stored in bins.
• Each guest is responsible for his/her own belongings. Guest must keep money, personal papers, prescription medicines, etc. with them at all times.
• No volunteer is responsible for guests’personal belongings.
• All personal items will be disposed of if they are left on the premises after the last day of shelter stay.
• Belongings outside of bins are considered donations and will be removed promptly.
• No food or drink is to be stored in the bins or sleeping area.
• Do not remove any property owned by Haven Ministries or Kent Island United Methodist Church.

Change Of Rules

• Rules subject to change as determined by Haven Ministries’ Board Members. All shelter guests will be notified of changes.

If rules are violated:

• 1st offense: denied admittance for 1 day
• 2nd offense: denied admittance for 2 days
• 3rd offense: denied admittance for duration of the 2018-2019 winter shelter
• Some minor offenses may warrant warnings first.
• Some offenses may warrant permanent dismissal from the shelter immediately.
• If rules are violated, guests will be asked to gather personal belongings and leave shelter property immediately. If necessary, police will be called to help handle the situation.