Family Gateway North Signature Form

At Family Gateway we realize that experiencing homelessness is one of the last things that anyone wishes to face, especially with a child(ren)/family. That said, please know that staff at Family Gateway Emergency Shelter is ready to serve you during this transition. With your help, our staff will play a role in assisting your transition out of homelessness as quickly as possible.

By providing a supportive environment that is housing stability focused, Family Gateway Emergency Shelter North is able to empower families who have an urgent desire to alleviate their family from the immediate and long-term hindrances of homelessness. Necessities for entry: • Currently homeless adult (18 or older) with no other safe housing alternatives; • At least one medically dependent individual or a child under the age of 17 in their full-time custody; • Willingness to enroll all minors into school/educational program; • Willingness to pursue legal income opportunities that will afford the family unit to afford monthly rent; • Willingness to pursue housing opportunities OUTSIDE of referrals & support provided by FG and its staff; • Actively supervise dependents/child(ren) in your custody; • Income that does not exceed 30% HUD Area Median Income (AMI) • Willingness to reside in a communal setting and contribute to: o Safety and security of yourself, others, children and the atmosphere of Family Gateway Emergency Shelter; o Respect of others, the space of others and Family Gateway property; o Cleanliness of the building, restrooms, rooms and communal spaces; o Timely transition for your family • Adhere to the City of Dallas’ “Stay at Home,” ordinance • Adhere to program curfew (employment exceptions provided with proof of employment AND work schedule AND front desk/security sign check ins) • Daily Health & COVID screenings • COVID testing, as/when deemed necessary/requested

Acceptance & ongoing services are: • Conditional, short term & rapid (less than 45 days), focused on gaining: o Critical documents (State ID/ Driver’s License, Original Birth Certificates & Social Security Cards); o GAINFUL Employment or Income that will allow a Guest & their family to qualify for housing ABSENT OF a housing program referral/assistance, as Family Gateway does NOT guarantee permanent/long term housing; o Educational enrollment (virtual or in person) into school for all youth in the family 4 and older;

Residing at Family Gateway North is temporary and Guests can be referred to another shelter (not necessarily a Family Gateway site), with family or friends, back to the Assessment & Diversion, or provided with a referral packet with the expectation of finding their own emergency shelter/housing if: o the requirements under “acceptance & ongoing services” are not met in a timely (case plan/recommendations made by case manager) manner; ▪ If documents are not obtained or applied for within 2 weeks from the date of program entry, Guests will be notified, in writing that other housing arrangements will need to be made. ▪ Guests who choose not to provide proof of attempts&/physical copies of critical documents INCLUDING proof of income are choosing to decline services & will no longer qualify for any of Family Gateway services, including emergency shelter. • Rooms AND vehicles are able to be, & are subject to be searched at any time by staff &/security. o A refusal to allow staff/security can result in IMMEDIATE program termination. • Room cleanliness will be checked no less than (2) times a day by City of Dallas/Family Gateway Staff/Security. • Animals of ANY kind are NOT allowed at Family Gateway North. • Unenrolled/unauthorized Guests (anyone that did not complete/ listed on the entry & enrollment paperwork) are NOT allowed inside the building, even to use the lobby restrooms. o If a Guest is found to have unauthorized/unenrolled Guest inside Family Gateway North – even in the lobby, the entire family is subject to be exited from the program within 24 hours.

Upon program termination: ▪ The room key will be deactivated, ▪ the Guest(s) will be given a specified window of time to retrieve their items, ▪ provided a staff/security escort ▪ and expected to retrieve ALL of their personal belongings, within & no longer than 24 hours of program termination notification. • Items that the Guest does not want will need to be placed in the outside dumpster & NOT left in the room. o Any attempts to vandalize or remove property (i.e., TV’s, beds, appliances, fixtures, tables, chairs, lamps, phones, dressers, coffee maker, pots &/pans/dishes, shower installed soap dispensers, etc.) will result in Family Gateway Staff/Security contacting of the police department for removal from the property & criminal charges being pressed.

Stability focused case management; • Awareness and referrals to: o Housing options that are in the community; o Employment agencies and opportunities; o Specialized support services; • Educational services for youth 18 and under; • Onsite & virtual groups and life skills services;

Guest has achieved their goals as stated on their case plan; • Guest is able to obtain safe, sustainable housing arrangements on their own (i.e., income affords an ability to attain such); • Guest desires to discontinue services and transition out of Family Gateway North; • Guest does not return to&/physically check in with Family Gateway North to sleep in a 24 hour period. o Guests are REQUIRED to check in for 8PM/10PM curfew unless that Guest works overnight. o Guests working overnight MUST be onsite for a minimum of 8 consecutive hours to sleep – AS WELL AS at least (1) minor/dependent child. • Guest does not adhere to Family Gateway policies and procedures that threaten: o safety and security of themselves, others, children or atmosphere; o respect of others, the space of others or the building; o cleanliness of the building, restrooms, rooms and/communal spaces; o timely transition; o City of Dallas’ COVID 18 ordinances; • Guest has needs that are beyond the level of expertise of the shelter; • Guest no longer meets the entry requirements of: having a minor/medically dependent individual in their full-time custody or having income that exceeds the 30% HUD AMI;

Family Gateway respects and acknowledges the rights of dignity of the Guests we serve. This charter establishes the rights and responsibilities for Guests accessing services at Family Gateway. Rights as at Guest at Family Gateway include: • Guests have the right to be treated as a human being, with dignity and respect; • Guests have the right to be informed of Family Gateway Emergency Shelter rules, polices, procedures and other pertinent information concerning the operations of the facility; • Guests have the right to be receive help finding and staying in suitable housing; • Guests have the right to be free from discrimination; • Guests have the right to assistance during a crisis to prevent a crisis; • Guests have the right to privacy during case management or counseling; • Guests have the right to be informed and included in the decisions made about themselves and members of their family unit; • Guests, adult & children, have the right to feel safe; • Guests of children have the right to be free of fear, living without the threat of physical, emotional or sexual abuse; • Guests of children have the right to an education; • Guests have the right to make formal complaints in writing and appeal a decision in writing and a receive a response to such;

Responsibilities as Guest as Family Gateway include: • Guests have the responsibility of contributing to a safe atmosphere, respecting the rights of others to feel safe; • Guests have the responsibility of treating other Guests, staff and volunteers with dignity and respect; • Guests have the responsibility of knowing and adhering to the rules, policies and procedures of Family Gateway Emergency Shelter; • Guests have the responsibility of attending case management sessions as recommended by their case managers. • Guests have the responsibility of seeking affordable housing, independent of Family Gateway staff, programs, partner agencies and referrals. • Guests have the responsibility of actively supervising their child(ren) at all times; • Guests have the responsibility of diligently pursing income that will contribute to the attaining, obtaining and maintaining of housing in the community. • Guests have the responsibility of maintaining the privacy of others in the shelter; • Guests have the responsibility of enrolling their child(ren) into an offsite educational institution such as Dallas Independent School District; • Guests have the responsibility of exploring methods of discipline other than physical, that promote teaching methods that promote positive self-esteem to their children;

Guests are asked to wash their hands: ▪ prior to coming out of their rooms ▪ frequent & throughout the day as we all touch doorknobs, elevator buttons, going in and out of the building, rooms, restrooms, etc. Hand sanitizer is available throughout the building. Guests & their children are encouraged to use these. o Personal size hand sanitizer is available in the lobby/front lobby. Guests are free to take (1), per family, on the way out the door. o Please remember that the usage of hand sanitizer is NOT a replacement for frequent & CDC recommended handwashing practices.

Masks are REQUIRED anytime any Guest, including children over the age of 2, are out of their room. If children under this age are able to wear a mask without a fight it is highly recommended that they wear them as well. o Cloth and medical-type masks are available at ALL times in the lobby or at the front desk – don’t hesitate to ask! o Cloth masks need to be washed, at minimal, each wash day.

Evening staff will take temperatures and complete an evening screening for all individuals in each room, every night. o If Guests have health concerns prior to or after evening screenings, Guests should see the staff member or security officer at the front desk, IMMEDIATELY.

Personal bottles of bleach & disinfectant are provided & available to each family. o These should be used to wipe down doorknobs, restrooms, refrigerator & microwave door before and after using them, etc. o Anytime personal disinfectant gets low or runs out, Guests should to ask their case manager, a staff member or security to replenish such.

Adult Guests are expected to use their SNAP benefits &/or personal income to provide daily meals for their family unit. o If Guests have a lapse in benefits or do not have the meals to provide meals for their family: ▪ Guests can sign up for the monthly onsite food bank service provided by Rainbow Days; ▪ Guests should reach out to their case managers for local food banks in the area; ▪ Guests can be transitioned to other shelters that offer daily meals. o Ordered food by way of pizza delivery, Door Dash, Uber Eats, Grub Hub, etc. MUST arrive no earlier than 8A and NO LATER than 8P.

At this time, due to COVID safety precautions, NO GUESTS outside of those currently living at Family Gateway North will be allowed to be inside the facilities/lobby. ▪ Exceptions are made for case workers such as those with CPS.

Due to the health crisis, all Guests are expected to be at Family Gateway North by or before curfew. ▪ If a Guest is working, they MUST submit proof of employment & their schedule to their case manager at least 72 hours before their first day of work. o If Guests are going to be unexpectedly late, they will need to provide documentation of such or contact the evening Programs staff, security or their case manager via phone, leaving a message and/or email. o If a Guest chooses not to return to Family Gateway Emergency Shelter after 10:30P on any day, it will be assumed that this Guest is no longer in need of shelter & services at Family Gateway. ▪ Exceptions are made for working Guests that have provided their schedule to their case manager/onsite staff. o Please be aware that this is curfew violations & not returning to the property to sleep onsite for 24 hours qualifies Guests for an IMMEDIATE exit. Their assigned room will therefore be packed up, cleaned & sanitized for another Guest when needed. ▪ Guests’ items will be held for up to 24 hours from the moment they were onsite and then ALL personal items will be donated and/or discarded.

Because of the pandemic, overnights will NOT be approved. o If a Guest chooses not to return to Family Gateway North before 10:30PM, on ANY NIGHT, it will be assumed that a Guest is no longer in need of shelter & services at Family Gateway. Please be aware that this is an IMMEDIATE exit. The room will therefore be packed up, cleaned & sanitized for another Guest when needed. o Guests’ items will be held for up to 24 hours and then donated and/or discarded.

Family Gateway North is a SMOKE FREE Building. That said: ▪ All smoking must take underneath the gazebo at the front of the property; ▪ If it is found that any Guest smokes inside their assigned/another Guests room, it is cause for IMMEDIATE PROGRAM TERMINATION. o Smoke breaks end at 8P and the front door of the lobby will be locked. o As a COVID precaution, Guests are asked not to take breaks with Guests from other rooms/congregate while smoking and under NO CIRCUMSTANCE, should individuals share cigarettes.

Guests are NOT ALLOWED to go into other Guests rooms. • Guests are responsible for the cleanliness of their own rooms. • Guests can expect up to (2) daily inspections of their room each day. One during the 7A to 3P shift and another between the 3P & 11P shift. o Failure to allow staff &/security into your assigned room is grounds for program termination. • During room checks, ALL Guests are expected to come to the door FULLY clothed & may ask for a moment to get dressed. o FULLY CLOTHED means that breast & buttocks are covered. o Lingerie/negligées are UNACCEPTABLE attire. • Each day rooms should: o Be free of perishable food, trash, foul/strong odors, soiled sheets, used potty seats, and Family Gateway brooms, mops, mop buckets, &/or cleaning supplies. o Have clothes that are clean folded, organized & stacked/put away; o Have dirty clothes in a hamper/one location that will be washed no later than 3 days later. o Have all medication, bleach & laundry pods out of the reach of children; o Have lights off if no one is in the room • In accordance with the Dallas Fire Marshal codes, your room must meet the following criteria or a fine of up to $2,000 and jail time can be issued by the City of Dallas: o Smoke detectors that are missing/tampered with; o Candles, candle burners, incenses, hot plates, microwaves, heaters, coolers; o Items stuffed in vents; o Blanket, sheet, comforter or other items over windows; o Items behind the door and it is not able to be opened wall to wall o Extension cords present; o Boxes stacked more than 3 boxes high; o Smoking or the burning of incenses in the room/building;

Guests are asked to dress conservatively at all times, covering up shoulders & arms, chest/breasts, stomachs, thighs, buttocks. • Guests are expected to be fully dressed, absent of sleepwear & house shoes/slippers free of hair bonnets, wraps, hats, satin/wave caps, or du rags ANYTIME they come out of their rooms to the front desk/lobby/staff office/Education Center. • Guests are also asked to bathe daily & wash soiled or dirty clothing on assigned wash days or for accidents involving bodily fluids, immediately be requesting an emergency wash. • If Guests need clothing assistance due to limited changes of clothing, they are encouraged to inform their case manager immediately in order to receive a one time voucher to a local thrift store.

Guests must be aware that there are up to 55 other families that will use the washers & dryers onsite. Because of this, Guests are expected to stay with their clothes for the duration of their wash & dry. o Once the washer/dryer has stopped, after 5 minutes, other Guests will be allowed to remove all clothing from the washer &/dryer in order to wash their clothing.

Guests who have vehicles/purchase vehicles while in at Family Gateway North MUST provide vehicle information to onsite staff. • Upon program graduation, exit or program termination Guests’ vehicles are expected to be off of property by 72 hours. After 72 hours, all vehicles are subject to be towed.

Guests are able to get mail at Family Gateway North while they are a Guest of Family Gateway North or Family Gateway Downtown. • Guests are encouraged to include their room number as their apartment number to avoid confusion. • Upon request, Family Gateway North or Family Gateway Downtown can hold an alumni Guest’s mail upon for up to 30 days, if mail is being picked up weekly. • Upon exit, all items belonging to Family Gateway North are to REMAIN IN THE ROOM. This includes but NOT limited to: bedding, pillows, sheets, blankets, tables, microwaves, towels, robes, lamps, dishes, pots & pans, dishes, glasses, utensils, or ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE NOT YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY purchased by/gifted to a Guest or their family.

Family Gateway provides services to both adults and children. At times we have over 100 children in our shelter environment. Because of this, it is imperative that you actively supervise your child(ren) all times. • Guests with children under the age of 13 should have their child(ren) in their line of sight at all times. This includes escorting them to the restroom. • Children over the age of 13 have more unsupervised freedom, such as going to the restroom provided they treat others and Family Gateway facilities with respect. • Family Gateway promotes the redirection of children but PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE is NOT permitted at any time. • Children can ONLY be redirected by their parent/guardian. The disciplining of children that you are NOT in guardian of will result in discharge. • To further ensure safety, children can NOT be supervised by another minor (18 and under) that is not their sibling. Siblings, 15 and older, are permitted to watch their younger siblings with staff approval AND a childcare agreement in place. • LEGAL & DOCUMENTED Custody arrangements involving children being out of the facility or overnights for children on weekends, holidays or school breaks can be honored but need to be discussed with a Guest’s case manager at least 72 hours prior to the first day your child(ren) will be out of the building. • Guests must be aware that these are a case by case basis & may include several steps & for a child’s re-entry into the shelter.

In order to create a safe setting for all Guests at Family Gateway North, Guests should be aware of the following: • Weapons of any kind are not allowed inside Family Gateway North. If a Guest has items such as these for personal protection or for employment, they will need to be checked in and out with onsite security upon entry and exit of the building, respectively. o Banned Weapons include: ▪ Guns (including zip & BB guns); ▪ Knives; ▪ Spears & swords; ▪ Clubs, sticks or staves; ▪ Explosive devices; ▪ Martial arts weapons; ▪ Brass knuckles; ▪ Pepper spray/mace; ▪ Stun guns/taser; ▪ Razors; ▪ Other items staff/security may deem as a weapon; • Alcohol, illegal, illicit, or controlled substances or paraphernalia from these are not allowed on the premises. • Friends and family of Guests that are not currently enrolled in the program are not allowed in the building. • Animals, with the exception of registered service animals, are not allowed into the building. • Guests should be aware that violent or physically intrusive behavior inside the shelter is not tolerated. This includes, but not limited to: o Hitting, kicking, slapping or pushing; o Throwing objects; o ANY unwanted physical contact; o Repeated verbal abuse; • Physical, emotional, sexual contact/abuse/harassment of children, other guests, or other household members will not be tolerated; • Guests are asked to sign in & out at the front desk on the clipboard. This ensures that Family Gateway staff is aware of who is in the building in the event of an emergency. • Guests are requested to adhere to the building curfew: o Sunday – Thursday is 8PM; o Friday & Saturday is 10PM;

Family Gateway Emergency Shelter asks that each Guest acknowledge and respect that Family Gateway Emergency Shelter is a shared space. Since this is the case, being good neighbors assists in ensuring that the policies and procedures protect the rights of all that reside here, offer a sense of security, contribute to sanitary building conditions. As a Guest, the choice not to adhere to polices that safeguard the rights of other Guests or their children will result in program violation which will include a plan of action for the Guest on how to avoid this program violation in the future by providing either coping skills, daily schedule, time management assistance, etc. are treated as follows: • Verbal warnings and support to achieve orientation to core values; • Written reinforcements to achieve synchronization to core values; • Non-Voluntary Case Closure Strategy;

If a Guest violates program requirements or no longer meets minimum eligibility requirements for emergency shelter assistance (i.e. income change), the Guest’s case manager will create a transition plan to terminate assistance. When emergency shelter assistance is ending, Guests will receive: • A written notice containing a clear statement of the reasons for program/service termination; and • If a Guest desires, Guests may file a written or email grievance (see procedure below) • After said grievance, the Guest will receive a written notice of the final decision. Guests should be aware that termination from the program does not bar the Family Gateway from providing further or other types of assistance. Guests should be aware that Guests can be exited for violations that interfere with the: • Safety and security of themselves, others, children and the atmosphere of Family Gateway Emergency Shelter; • Respect of others, the space of others and Family Gateway property; • Cleanliness of the building, restrooms, rooms and communal spaces; • Timely transition for their family o Failure to actively increase income, turn down housing opportunities or pursue housing outside of shelter Incidents listed below, along with others not listed, will result in immediate termination from the program: • Physical discipline of a child; • Unwanted or unauthorized contact with another Guest, adult or youth; o This Includes domestic violence (physical, verbal, sexual, etc.) • Possession of or use of a weapon; • Threats to other Guests/Staff/Interns, etc; • Possession of illegal substances or alcohol inside Family Gateway Emergency Shelter; • Crimes committed while at Family Gateway Emergency Shelter that are punishable by law; • Failure to align with COVID safety cautions Other behavior inconsistent with the safe and effective operation of our services will be addressed with progressively escalated discussions to first resolve without exit.

Guests have the right to express their opinions in an appropriate manner concerning dissatisfaction with services. • Guests not satisfied with services or treatments by staff have the opportunity to resolve the issue or the decision. • Grievance Procedures steps should be conducted within three (3) working days after discussion with Case Manager. • In addition to discussing the grievance issues, submit your grievance in written format using the Grievance Form or in writing via paper or email. Staff has 3-5 business days to address your grievance. • Failure to follow grievance procedures will result in forfeiting the pursuit of further action and the decision of staff is final.

Guests should discuss matters with their Case Manager, seeking a satisfactory resolution. • If a satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved, schedule a time within 24 hours to discuss the matter with the Shelter Director. • If a satisfactory resolution is not achieved with the Shelter Director, schedule a time within 24 hours to discuss the matter with the CEO. The decision of the CEO is final. • The family may request a written response to the grievance. All information regarding the grievance shall be made a part of the family’s file.

There is but one rule at Family Gateway Emergency North, contribute to the: o Safety and security of yourself, others, children and the atmosphere of Family Gateway Emergency Shelter; o Respect of others, the space of others and Family Gateway property; o Cleanliness of the building, restrooms, rooms and communal spaces; o Timely transition of your family;

Family Gateway Emergency Shelter offers case management designed to transition families from emergency shelter as quickly as possible BUT housing is not guaranteed. • Guests are required to focus on ways to increase monthly income. • Guests identifying housing that they can afford is their responsibility. • Guests are expected to meet with their case manager no less than once a week.

During COVID, Family Gateway will provide virtual & in person services for youth. o Virtual Learning services REQUIRE youth to check in to the ONSITE Education Center each morning between 7:30AM & 7:45AM ▪ In the Education Center, students will have qualified staff assist with daily classroom & independent assignments. o After School Programming will begin at 3PM & end at 6PM, Monday – Friday. • During this time, Family Gateway Emergency Shelter will continue to offer educational advisement by way of a Youth & Family Liaison. • Guests who have children 4 or older ARE REQUIRED to enroll their child(ren) in some form of educational learning, virtually or in person.

• ALL Children should be in their own rooms no later than 8PM. • Adults are expected to be in their own rooms no later than 10PM. • Lobby doors OPEN at 6A each morning. • Lobby Doors are CLOSED at 8PM each evening.

• Smoke/fresh breaks can NOT be taken in groups; smoke with only those over the legal age in your family smoke, can be outside smoking within 12 feet of one another. • Smoke breaks are between 6A & 8P.

• MUST be ordered online by Tuesday at Noon, of each week. • Supplies will be delivered on Wednesday’s by 9P. • Supplies orders can be entered at: https://www.familygateway.org/supplyrequestnorth.

• Requests must be submitted virtually at: https://www.familygateway.org/repair. • If you have an emergency, such as flooding, fire, water not working, etc., please call or go to the front desk immediately!

• Guests MUST stay with their clothes in the laundry room or set a timer to check their clothes at the expected time of the end of their wash/dry cycle. • Clothes will be removed after (5) minutes of them being unattended to, as there are many families in need of the washer & dryer.