Safehome Manual English (10/2017)

SAFEHOME MANUAL Yo u r g u i d e t o t h e s a f e h o m e

CONTENT 4-5

WHO ELSE WILL BE HERE?

6-9

LIVING IN THE HOME

10-11

SAFETY

12-19

SERVICES

20-21

SAFEHOME TIMEFRAME

23

A NOTE FROM US 4-7

2 

INTRO

The Restore NYC safehome is a safe haven for a community of women to grow and learn together.

3

WHO? Who else will be here?

Your Roommates: The safehome houses up to 11 women. These women are usually of different nationalities, ethnicities, languages, family backgrounds, and ages. We believe every woman living in the safehome is a survivor and our program activities are survivor-centered— meaning that every woman’s voice and decision is valued. We honor each woman’s strengths and contributions, and their journey towards independence and well-being.

Restore NYC Staff and Interns: There are full-time and part-time Restore NYC staff work at the safehome. Interns also help at the safehome and work with the staff to best serve the residents. You will be assigned an advocate who will meet with you weekly during your stay in the safehome. Your advocate will be one of the staff or interns working in the home.

So what does Restore NYC staff person do? The Safehome Manager oversees and manages the Safehome. She helps to make sure all your needs are met. The Safehome Coordinators oversee 4

Who else will be here? (cont.)

programs, coordinate day-to-day activities, provide encouragement and assistance.

The safehome coordinators speak various languages and will show you love, compassion, and service during your stay. Together, the Restore NYC staff will support your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs while living in the safehome.

Service Provider Organizations (SPOs): In addition to receiving support in the safehome, you will also work with your case manager. We work with organizations in the New York City area to make sure you receive the care you need during your stay as well.

Volunteers: Volunteers will sometimes visit the safehome during the day or evening hours to spend time with you and the other women in the safehome. A volunteer will either be in the safehome during a work shift, in place of a Restore NYC staff member, or lead a program activity for you and the women in the safehome.

Volunteers are not allowed to give you their phone number or contact information, and you may not exchange phone numbers or contact information with volunteers. If you would like to communicate with volunteers at the safehome, it can be arranged for you by a staff member.

5

LIVING IN THE HOME What else should I know?

Address and Mail: The address for the safehome will either be given to you by Restore NYC when you move in the home. Please do not share this address with anyone or use the address of the safehome for work or service-related paperwork at any time. It is important that the location of the safehome remain confidential for everyone’s safety.

Please use your case manager’s address when you apply for any government, legal, and healthrelated matters. If a service professional thinks another address is needed, please ask your case manager for another address to use.

Travel and Transportation: Your case manager will make sure you get public transportation passes (e.g., Metrocard) during your stay at the safehome. If you need more help with travel, please speak to your counselor advocate. If you need help understanding the New York City transportation system, our staff and volunteers will be glad to help you learn in the life skills training program.

6

Living in the Home (cont.)

Phone: You may use the safehome phone to make or receive local calls only from Restore NYC staff or volunteers. For confidentiality reasons, you are not permitted to give the safehome phone number to friends or family members. If you use a calling card, you may use the safehome phone to make long-distance calls.

All phone calls using the safehome phone must be approved in advance by a Restore NYC staff member. Often, your case manager is able to secure a cell phone for your use. You are allowed to keep and use your personal cell phone with you at the safehome, but you must turn off the “Location Settings” or “Location Services”. You are also not allowed to communicate (including by phone) with anyone with a history of abuse toward you during your stay in the safehome.

Food and Meals: Healthy food options (including fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat) will be provided for you at the safehome. There is no cost to you for food.

If you have any food allergies or do not eat certain foods, please let us know. We will also provide a monthly spending allowance to purchase cultural or ethnic specific foods.

The Restore NYC staff and you and your roommates will be in charge of managing food every week, creating a grocery list, and shopping for groceries. You can also make personal requests for food. We cannot guarantee these requests, but will do our best.

Both family and cultural dinners take place in the home. More information about these activities is listed under Activities in this booklet. For other meals, you may cook and serve yourself. Often, the women in the safehome enjoy making food together and share food made together.

If you are in need of help making meals, please talk to a Restore NYC staff member. This can be a part of your life skills training program.

7

Living in the Home (cont.)

Quiet Hours: Between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., you and your roommates may talk quietly and/or watch television in the living room and dining room areas. It is important that noise be kept low during these hours so that no one disturbs other women who may be sleeping.

Clothing/Accessories: The safehome provides donated clothing items for you to select and wear.

Restore NYC will not buy clothing for the women in the safehome. Often, case managers can help you buy clothing with a Target card or at a clothing drive, if you need a specific item of clothing. Your advocate can also recommend low-price or free clothing stores in the New York City area.

Save to Independence Program: At the safehome, once you receive employment, residents can participate in our Save to Independence program. The goal of this program is to help assist you with saving money during your stay in the safehome. You will receive access to the total sum of your money in cash within 2 weeks of your move-out date.

8 

Living in the Home (cont.)

Computers/Internet: A desktop computer with internet is in the living room and is available for use at any time. There are also three laptops that you can use. Please keep the laptops downstairs. Sometimes, time restrictions will apply to the use of computers if they are in high demand.

You may use the internet password for your wireless devices (e.g., cell phone, ipad, computer). Please keep the password confidential. If you would like to have an e-mail account, please notify the Restore NYC staff and we will help you to set one up.

TV/Cable: The TV is in the living room area and can be watched at any time of the day. After 11 p.m., it is important to keep the television on low volume to respect other women in the safehome who are sleeping. The TV is for community use, so please watch programs that are appropriate for everyone’s viewing. Cable channels, as well as channels for Spanish, Korean, and Chinese programs, are available.

Toiletries: Toiletries including soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and other cleaning items will be provided for you at the safehome at no cost. Please speak to any of the staff if you need any of these items.

Laundry: The washing machine, detergent, and dryer is free for you to use. The washer and dryer are located in the basement and may be used from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. every day.

9

SAFETY How can I help keep this home safe?

Keys and Valuable Items: When you move into the safehome, you will get a key to the front door and a small lock-box for personal items. You may keep this lock-box in your room.

Restore NYC is not responsible for items lost or stolen during your stay with us. Please do not lend your key to other residents, and you also may not make a copy of this key. If you misplace or lose your key, please tell a staff member immediately.

Alarm System: The safehome has an alarm system that is set every night and disarmed every morning. Staff are responsible for setting the alarm system every night at 10 p.m. and deactivating it at 9 a.m.

Anyone who has to exit or return to the home between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m. must disarm and then set the alarm system on their own. We will teach you how to use the alarm system codes when you move into the safehome. It is important to keep these codes confidential. The codes will be changed every few months.

10 

How can I keep this home safe? (cont.)

Address: As mentioned previously, you are not permitted to share the address of the safehome with anyone. You may also not use the address for work or service-related paperwork at any time. It is important that the location of the safehome remain confidential for everyone’s safety.

If you are requested to give out an address, please use your case manager’s address.

Phone: All phone calls from the safehome phone must be approved in advance by a Restore NYC staff member. You are allowed to keep and use your personal cell phone with you at the safehome, but you must turn off the “Location Settings” or “Location Services”.

For confidentiality reasons, you are not permitted to give the safehome phone number to friends or family members. Also, you may not communicate (including by phone) with anyone with a history of abuse toward you during your stay in the safehome.

11

SERVICES What services will be provided to me?

Restore NYC offers specialized services, programs, and activities to help you become healthy, independent, and self-sufficient.

Your advocate will meet with you within 14 days of your arrival and agree with you on your Restoration Plan, which lists your program services during the first three months of your stay.

She will help you to make short and long-term goals, which will be re-evaluated every three months. The safehome programs are described in the following pages.

12 

What services will be provided to me? (cont.)

Activities: Family Meetings Family meetings with all of your roommates are held once a week for one hour. Restore staff and the other women in the home will talk about upcoming events, concerns, and any important information. Everyone must attend all family meetings.

Family Dinners We have family dinners at least once a week and everyone is encouraged to help out with the cooking process, sharing of the meal, and clean up.

We want to make the family dinner a great place for relationships to develop.

Cultural Dinners Cultural dinners are held once a month when one woman in the home will help to shop for, prepare, and serve a meal from her home country.

This will be an opportunity for all safehome residents to learn about and celebrate each other’s cultures.

13

What services will be provided to me? (cont.)

Restoration programs: Our programs are selected to meet the following restorative needs:

Physical & Mental Well-being

Economic Empowerment

Spiritual Growth

14 

PHYSICA L A ND ME N TAL W E L L -B E IN G Restoration Programs

Safety Plan: During your stay in the safehome, you will complete a safety plan with the Restore NYC staff to identify safe contact people and places to go in case of an emergency. The safehome is considered a safe place. There is a secure alarm system and keys are given to you and your roommates to safely enter and exit the home.

Nutrition: You will learn about nutrition and healthy food choices during your stay at the safehome, and be given a number of food choices. You and your roommates will also help to plan the weekly grocery list.

Physical Health Care: Restore NYC works with your case manager(s) to make sure all of your medical needs are met while you are in the safehome. Each woman will receive medical care including appointments with a primary care physician, dentist, gynecologist, and eye doctor while in the safehome. We also teach healthy sleep habits and on-going exercise classes in the safehome, including yoga.

Coaching for Healing: During your stay in the safehome, counseling education programs (either group or individual, depending on each woman’s needs) will be offered at least once a month. Topics include but are not limited to personal and social relationships, understanding trauma, substance abuse, coping skills, stress management, and conflict resolution.

The goal is to empower you to find and use your own strengths and resources to achieve your personal goals. Many of the woman in the home also receive counseling in the community, and if you are involved in counseling, your advocate will ask to collaborate with your counselor regarding your progress.

15

PHYSI CA L A N D ME N TAL W E L L -B E IN G (CO N T. ) Restoration Programs

Service in Community: You will have the opportunity to serve others in the community with an organization called Hope for New York. Hope for New York brings volunteers together to help at various nonprofit groups serving people in need in New York City. The women who live in the safehome also practice gratitude while living in the safehome. This includes writing thank you notes and blessing others in need through things such as preparing meals.

Outings & Recreation: You can participate in monthly outings and events with our partner organizations and small group volunteers. Outings may include going to the movies, going out to dinner, taking a trip to an apple orchard or to a nearby town for the day.

Transition Support: Restore NYC staff will work with your case manager(s) to make sure you are supported in your transition out of the safehome. This includes keeping in touch and helping you with maintaining employment, secure safe long-term housing, and find community supports.

16 

EC ON OMIC E MP OW E RME N T Restoration Programs

Life Skills Training: Life Skills Training sessions are held every month in the safehome (both group and individual classes depending on each woman’s needs). During these sessions, you will learn about topics including personal health care, basic living skills, transportation, communication skills, problem-solving skills, organizational skills, financial management, and parenting. Family meetings are held once a week to help everyone work on these skills, as well as healthy communication and conflict resolution.

ESL Class: A certified ESL instructor gives ESL classes in the safehome (both group and individual classes). English classes are open to all residents to improve your employment and educational opportunities. We also work with residents’ case managers to make sure that residents take part in ESL classes in the community during their stay in the safehome.

Job Skills Training: Each woman in the safehome is expected to receive job training in an employment empowerment program where you can learn job skills in a safe work environment. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to develop a work ethic that will help you succeed in any future job. Restore NYC staff will assess your education and employment history in order to help you find classes, training programs, and employment based on your interests and skills.

Restore NYC may visit your place of employment and can request information about your employer’s name, address, phone number, and hours. This visitation and verification will only happen with your full knowledge and is done to ensure your safety.

Legal & Immigration Advocacy Restore NYC staff, and your attorney(s) and caseworker, can help you with legal and immigration needs. If you are eligible for immigration relief and do not yet have an attorney, Restore NYC staff will help you find an immigration attorney.

17

18 

SPI RITUAL G ROW TH Restoration Programs

Spiritual Restoration: Spirituality is an important part of Restore NYC. Although you are not required to participate in any of the spiritual activities offered at the safehome, we encourage you to participate.

Once a week the woman in the safehome meet for a Reflection Time led by a safehome coordinator.

During this time, we will talk about topics including love, hope, and faith. Each woman in the safehome is also encouraged to practice their faith through attendance at church or another faith institution weekly. Occasionally, individual and group volunteers will provide classes on spiritual topics in the safehome. Safehome coordinators are available to talk about any spiritual matters or give spiritual advice during the resident’s stay in the safehome.n.

Mentorship Program: Toward the end of your stay in the safehome, you will have the opportunity to partner with a mentor who will provide support and guidance as you transition from the safehome. This will be a safe, effective, and ongoing relationship that inspires, encourages and instructs residents on healthy living practices. Mentors are trained through Restore NYC and chosen from our dedicated volunteer team.

19

SAFEHOME TIMEFRAME How long can I stay in the safehome?

Each woman may stay in the safehome for one year, provided they follow the safehome guidelines.

You are also free to leave at any point before the one-year limit, although we strongly encourage you to commit to a one-year stay. During your stay in the safehome, we expect you to participate in all activities and programs agreed upon with your advocate in your “Restoration Plan”.

Our goal is to provide a safe place for you to be empowered so that you can live a restored life once you leave the safehome.

20

What would make me leave early?

Although we will make every effort to promote a healthy experience for you in the safehome, there are conditions under which someone would be asked to leave the safehome early.

These conditions include the following: 1. If there have been multiple violations of safehome responsibilities as described in this manual, and attempts to solve these problems with the help of staff and/or other women in the safehome have been unsuccessful 2. If physical violence is used toward staff or residents 3. If you put the safehome, your roommates, or staff in danger by giving out information on the safehome location and/or information about staff or other residents 4. If you have contacted any individual who has previously exploited you

21

22 

WE ARE THANKFUL YOU’RE HERE Please make yourself at home. We know that this is a lot of information to take in. So, remember if you have any questions at anytime, please do not hesitate to ask us.

23

REBUILDING THE LIFE INTENDED