House Rules and Safety 

Out of the Cold: Centre County is committed to the safety of its guests and volunteers.

Our House Rules

• Treat everyone with dignity and respect.
  
• Use the shelter space in a respectful manner. 
  
• Be a good neighbor. 
  
• No weapons are allowed in the shelter, and nothing may be used as a weapon at the shelter. 
  
• Substance use is not allowed on the premises.
  

General Shelter Information/Expectations

• ADULTS ONLY: All guests must be 18. 
  
• ADMITTANCE TO SHELTER: When an individual is seeking shelter, they may call or stop in to our day shelter. If they choose, they will be placed on our waitlist after answering a few questions. When an opening arrives, they will be brought in to do an intake with staff. If a returning guest has not been at the shelter for more than 1 month, a new intake will be completed.
  
• INTAKE: If necessary, guests will be expected to update their intake papers every year.
  
• ARRIVAL: All guests must be at the night shelter by 10pm, unless previous permission is given (typically just for late work shifts). 
  
• SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS: Men and women sleep in separate rooms. Guests are assigned a bed and given one pillow, one fitted sheet and one blanket. 
  
• NIGHTS OUT RULE: If a guest is out for 3-nights consecutively, then they will be removed from our guest list and their spot will go to the next person on the waitlist. A guest may request a longer stay out, but it needs to be approved by the director. Additionally, a guest may not be out for more than 10 nights in any one month period. If they are, they will lose their spot. This number resets on the 1st of every month. 
  
• QUIET TIME: Quiet time begins at 11:00 p.m and ends at 6:00am. Phones may be used with dimmed screens and ear buds. Smoke breaks will be limited and can only happen with staff permission during these times. Guests who work late, overnight or who are sick will be able to sleep during the day, with permission of staff. 
  
• SOME BREAKS ARE AT 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. and will last for 15 min. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS MADE!
  
• WAKE UP AND DEPARTURE: Guests are asked to be up by 9:00 am and not before 6:00 am unless for work. Before leaving each morning, guests should have their area cleaned up and beds made. Staff will check bedding after 9:00 am. Guests are expected to be awake and have their beds made before 9 am daily. Accommodations may be made for guests working 2nd or 3rd shift. 
  
• MEDICATION: Medications must be kept with personal belongings. OOTC will not be held liable for lost or stolen medication. Controlled substances will be counted by case management  staff and locked in the filing cabinet. 
  
• WEAPONS: No guns are allowed on site. If a gun is found in possession, the police will be called. All other weapons will be put into a labeled bag and placed in a secure lock box. Items will be returned upon departure. If a volunteer finds that a guest is in possession of a weapon, there will be a formal consequence. If a guest brings a gun to the shelter he or she will be asked to leave the shelter for 3 months. 
  
• ALCOHOL/DRUGS: No alcohol or drugs are allowed on the site. If a guest comes to the site with any alcohol or drugs, they will be given a formal consequence. Medical marijuana is allowed but must be used away from other guests and ID should be shown to staff (make a copy for file), along with completed MM form. Vapes are not permitted to be used in the building. Combusting MM is not legal and is not allowed on property. If drugs or alcohol are found, those will be confiscated. If a guest refuses to give those to staff, he or she will be asked to leave immediately. If a guest chooses treatment (inpatient or outpatient), for his or her substance use disorder, he or she will not receive consequences. 
  
• THEFT: Out of the Cold is not responsible for guest’s property. However, if we have evidence of theft, formal consequences will be given. Police will also be notified if you are found with another person’s property. 
  
• BEHAVIOR: The shelter should be a safe and respectful environment. If a guest's behavior is unsafe or disrespectful (after being reminded), there will be a formal consequence. 
  
• VIOLENCE: Physical and verbal violence toward anyone on the site is not acceptable. Any use of violence, will result in a formal consequence. 
  
• LANGUAGE: Threatening or abusive language, bullying or harassing tones is not tolerated.
  
• PERSONAL BELONGINGS: Guests are responsible for their personal belongings.  OOTC and host sites are not liable for any lost or stolen personal belongings. Guests are limited to storing supplies in a storage bin (Guests will be provided with ONE locker). Additional storage can be provided in the Out of the Cold shed (5 bag limit). Guest belongings are not permitted to be lying around throughout the shelter. All guests must ask permission to and be escorted to get belongings in the storage shed. 
  
• PERSONAL PROPERTY: While staying at the shelter you may be asked, at any time, to have your items or belongings searched. 
  
• GUEST AREAS & ITEMS: All guest belongings need to be in their designated areas, no belongings may be left around the shelter. Guests will have an individual set of sheets, utensils, water bottle, cup and plates that they will be responsible for maintaining at all times. Loss of items will result in guests needing to replace the item. All items must be washed and kept in the designated area when not in use. 
  
• SITE PROPERTY: Damaging or defacing site property may be cause for exiting the program. You will be financially responsible to replace what you broke and/or fix the damage with supervision by managers. 
  
• STORAGE OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS: OOTC can only hold personal belongings for 45 days after a guest exits the program. If a guest communicates with the staff and makes other arrangements, there could be a possible extension of up to 90 days. After the limit has been reached, guest items will be disposed of or donated.
  
• SMOKING: The use of tobacco products is allowed only in designated areas at the shelter site. Guests must abide by the final smoke policy of the host site. It is not acceptable to leave or throw cigarette butts anywhere on site property except in the designated receptacles. 
  
• APPROPRIATE ATTIRE: Guests should be clothed at all times. No changing of clothes in common areas. 
  
• PHOTOS & VIDEOS: No photos or videos may be taken of other guests while on site. Please refrain from taking any photos or videos on property. 
  
• ANIMALS: OOTC is not able to provide shelter for any pets at this time. Service animals may be permitted given the following: proof of service animal being required due to a disability must be shown, what the animal is trained to do or assist with must be disclosed, and it is the guest’s responsibility to clean up and care for the animal. It must be leashed at all times. If the service animal injures someone or causes damages, the service animal will have to leave the property.
  
• MAIL: Guests can receive mail at the shelter, 318 South Atherton Street. After a guest’s departure from OOTC, we will contact them to pick up mail for 45 days. After those 45 days, mail will be returned to the sender. 
  
• VEHICLES: All vehicles on property must be inspected, registered and insured before being on property. You may not allow any other guests to be in your vehicle on property. You may not allow anyone to sleep in your vehicle at night. 
  
• TRANSPORTATION: Transportation can only be provided to current overnight guests and for medical, home or work purposes. We will only provide temporary transportation and will help connect you with County Transportation or CATA services. 
  
• VIDEO SURVEILLANCE: While at the shelter, guests are subjected to video surveillance. Video surveillance is only used by shelter staff, and/or police upon request. Staff reserve the right to review video surveillance at any time. Video surveillance will not be available to shelter guests at any time. 
  
• CASE MANAGER MEETINGS: Guests are expected to meet with case managers on a weekly basis, with no exception. This is a part of OOTC services as we want to support you with developing skills and support to succeed with independent living. Guests will be given a specific date and time to meet with case managers. Guests will fill out a weekly goal sheet to review with case managers during their meeting times. 
  
• CHORES: In addition, guests will also be required to participate/complete their designated chores while staying at the shelter. Guests' chores will be divided evenly between all guests and rotate on a weekly basis. 
  
• SHOWERS: All guests are expected to shower during their scheduled time in the shower. This is to ensure cleanliness and good hygienic habits. 
  
• LAUNDRY: All guests will be required to do laundry on their designated day. On the assigned day of laundry, guests must wash all their bedding in addition to any personal laundry.  
  
• APARTMENT SEARCHING: Guests will be shown 3 apartments within their price range and their ideal living location. After 3 apartments that guests turn down, guests will have 30 days to find their own living arrangements before they will be required to move out of the shelter, or get back on the waitlist for night shelter. 
  

CONSEQUENCES
Consequences vary depending upon infraction. Consequences will be enforced to guarantee the safety of guests, volunteers, and staff. The rules and consequences will remain consistent from site to site and will be enforced accordingly. 

If a guest is found with a weapon (other than a gun), brings drugs or alcohol to the site, or becomes physically or verbally aggressive, the following will happen: 

1. The guest will receive a verbal warning.
   
2. The guest will receive a second, written warning. 
   
3. The guest will receive a full day and night out of the shelter.
   
4. The guest will receive 3 full days and nights out of the shelter.*
   
5. The guest will receive 5 full days and nights out of the shelter.* 
   
6. The guest will receive one full week (days and nights) out of the shelter.*
   
7. The guest will receive two full weeks (days and nights) out of the shelter.* 
   
8. The guest will receive one month (days and nights) out of the shelter.* 
   
9. The guest will receive 3 months (days and nights) out of the shelter.* 
   

*If you are on our overnight list, any consequence that results in 3 nights out or longer, you will be removed from our overnight list.


IMPORTANT NOTE: 

• Depending on the severity of the situation (if a guest is becoming physically or verbally aggressive, threatening, etc.), a decision can be made by case management staff to start at consequence 6, asking a guest to leave for a week. 
  
• At any point after receiving a consequence, if behaviors continue, guests will participate with case managers to develop a behavioral health plan and/or a crisis management plan to continue to utilize the shelter.
  
• Return of any guest after a consequence should be dependent on the guest agreeing to meet with staff during the day and outlining a plan to avoid specific behaviors that have been causing the need for consequences. The return of a guest who has been expelled is at the discretion of the staff and guest advisory board.