House Rules

LIVING IN HERO STORY HOUSES

  1. Honesty and integrity are expected at all times.  Our highest values are tranquility, cooperation, and a feeling of personal safety. 
  2. You must abide by all the rules of the house and all Texas and local laws.
  3. Everyone is expected to meet with the House Team Leader when they are first housed. The House Team Leader will review each one of these rules with you. The House Team Leader will provide information about recovery support and assist you with other resources.  The House Team Leader is your first call if you have a conflict or problem.
  4. You are expected to develop and implement a recovery program and work together with the residents in the houses on your recovery and personal goals.  
  5. We are partnered with many external agencies that can help support you in achieving your goals.  We believe that living in a Hero Story House is an opportunity to expand and heal.  We will do everything we can to facilitate your goals.

FINANCIAL POLICIES

  1. ROOM CHARGES: An intake fee of $200 will be due at the time of acceptance. $200 per week, due every Friday by 6:00 p.m.  Cash app and Venmo accepted.  A late fee of $75 will apply if payment is not received by the following Monday at 6:00 p.m.  
  2. SUPPLY FEE: The supply fee will vary and includes toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, dish soap, dishwasher pods, laundry soap, dryer sheets, and any cleaning supplies.  Supplies are typically purchased at Sam’s Club, Costco, Walmart, or Amazon and receipts will be shared and the total cost will be divided equally by the number of residents in the home.
  3. FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT OF STAFF:  Anyone associated with the houses or Hero Story Housing is prohibited from handling your finances.  We will provide referrals to banks and financial education that is external to the housing.  

CURFEW & OVERNIGHTS

    1. CURFEW: If your account is current then it is midnight on Friday and Saturday nights, and 11:00 pm Sunday through Thursday night. No exceptions unless prior approved by the house team leader.  If you are on a program-mandated curfew then those times will apply
    2. You will be asked to provide a work schedule to the house team leader. We enforce the curfew unless you have a checkout slip from work. 
  • NO CALL – NO SHOW at housing for 48 hours may result in exit. Please contact your house team leader if you plan on being gone longer than 48 hours with approval. 
  • Overnight sleeping at another location is permitted with approval after 30 days of the program.  When you return from an overnight stay, you will be required to complete a urine analysis and the cost is $10, payable immediately.

WORK/SCHOOL SCHEDULES

  1. You must have a job or show proof of actively seeking a job within 10 days of arrival or be enrolled in school at least part-time.  If shift work is past curfew, it must be communicated to the house team leader and to Danetta for approval.
  2. If you receive SSDI, then you must volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per week.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL 

POLICY:  NO DRUG USE OR ALCOHOL USE – INCLUDING MARIJUANA This is a recovery-supportive housing program. Re-occurring Drug and Alcohol use may lead to a housing exit.  

  • You are not allowed to use or possess alcohol, drugs, medications not prescribed to you, or drug paraphernalia. 
  1. If you supply or give drugs or alcohol to another resident or are caught dealing drugs on or off property, we reserve the right to exit you immediately. (If exited, you may get your belongings within seven days.)
  2. If you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol or have substances in your UA, you may be removed from housing. 
  3. The results of your housing UAs will be made available to drug court staff, and a signed medical release will be kept on file.
  4. NA and/or AA meetings, peer counseling or therapy ( by a licensed professional) is recommended for all persons in recovery.

MEDICATION

  • Only prescription drugs prescribed by your healthcare provider and approved by your drug court team are allowed. No cough syrup unless it is prescribed. 
  • Any prescribed medication must be kept in a locked box with a copy of the prescription given to Danetta Drew and drug court if applicable. 
  • You will be expected to follow drug court policies regarding prescription medication. If you receive a new prescription, make sure to report it to your drug court case manager and to Danetta Drew.   
  1. Possession of medication not prescribed to you is cause for an exit. 

SMOKING

  1. Do not smoke/vape in your room or anywhere in the house. Smoking/vaping is only allowed outside in the back of the house. Please clean up your smoking materials and confirm that it is properly and fully extinguished before walking away.  Do not leave matches, lighters, etc. out for safety reasons.

ROOMS 

    1. There will be both scheduled and random room and vehicle searches for all residents. Rooms may be searched for drugs or contraband at any time.  
  • Rooms must be kept orderly and clean. Beds should be made daily when not occupied. Dirty dishes should be removed daily and washed. Trash should be emptied daily.  Clean up after yourself.
  1. Food may not be stored in rooms. 
  2. Rooms are shared rooms unless other arrangements are made. If there is an open bed in your room, you are responsible for maintaining the bed. You may not use the spare bed, dresser, or closet space.   Locks are not permitted on any bedroom, and if one is found then you may be asked to exit the program.
  3. You may not move to another room without written permission from the house team leader.

 

HOUSE CARE

  1. Immediately clean up any area you use (Kitchen, Bathroom, and Common area). It is expected that you will thoroughly clean the bathroom after your use.  We provide bleach in the house for sanitizing surfaces. 
  2. TOILET: Do not put anything into the toilet except toilet paper. Putting any other objects into the toilet may cause damage and will lead to an immediate exit. 
  3. HOUSE CHORES:  You are expected to participate in house chores, and they will be assigned weekly. The chore list is in the kitchen.  If you cannot do your chore, you need to make arrangements with another resident to cover it for you. The house will be deep cleaned by residents every week.  Chores will include thorough cleanup of common areas (kitchens, bathrooms, living room, etc).  Each tenant is responsible for cleaning up after themselves and for participating in communal chores as assigned.  They will be rotated among all residents.
  4. UTILITIES and GARBAGE: Energy conservation is everyone’s responsibility. Garbage and recycle bins must go out. It is up to everyone to make sure the cans are outside in the proper place for pick up.
  5. Hero Story Housing staff or house team leader will inspect the home once a week.
  6. PROPERTY DAMAGE: If you intentionally damage the house, you will be responsible for the damage repair costs.  
  7. CARS: If you own a vehicle, it must be functioning and not in disrepair (leaking oil, smoking) and you must also provide proof of license, insurance, and registration. Parking is first come first served. There is no assigned parking.  If you damage someone’s car or someone else damages your car, it is your responsibility. We do not get involved.
  8. The computer and printer are to remain in the common area.  
  9. We can/will search any part of the house inside and out, and any/all vehicles parked in the driveway, and on the street adjacent to the house at any time.
  10. The thermostat needs to be set at or above 70° during the summer (AC), and no higher than 68° during the winter (heat).  Please keep doors and windows closed while HVAC is on.  Excessive electric bills may be divided equally between residents.

 

ANIMALS/PETS

  1. We are not able to accommodate pets due to our communal nature and shared spaces. 

PERSONAL POSSESSIONS

  1. You are not allowed to possess guns, knives, or other weapons. Possession of any of these types of items will be cause for an exit.  
  2. Hero Story Housing is not responsible for your personal property. If you loan or borrow any personal property with other residents you do so at your own risk.  Residents storing personal property in common areas is at their own risk.     
  3. You must identify any personal property with a value of greater than $100 to the intake team.  
  4. Stealing will not be tolerated and is cause for an exit. Bringing stolen goods into the house is stealing. Taking someone’s medication or belongings is stealing. We will ask you to move out if you steal.
  5. FOOD: Taking someone else’s food is stealing. You must ask about taking items in the refrigerator or food located elsewhere in the kitchen.  We frequently have food donations for the entire house.   Please be sure you understand if something is community food or personal food. 
  6. PROPERTY STORAGE: Any property left behind after moving out or abandoned will be disposed of in 10 days if you do not make arrangements for it. If you make advanced arrangements, storage may be available for up to 30 days. We do not have the ability to store property for more than 30 days. Please make arrangements to have someone collect your items if you cannot do so.  

GUESTS / SECURITY

  1. If you give your entry code to someone else, or let someone in on your code, that is considered a breach of house safety and will be grounds for an exit. 
  2. NO persons under the age of 18 are allowed anywhere on the property at any time unless discussed with Danetta Drew and approved before the visit.   
  3. Individuals who do not reside in the house are NOT allowed on the property. However, we allow friends and family members to visit your house on move-in or at a pre-arranged time.  Must have the team leader’s written approval prior to making arrangements to confirm eligible dates and times.  No guests will be allowed after 10:00 p.m.
  4. Physical violence or threats of any kind will not be tolerated. Violence or threats by you or your approved guests will be cause for an immediate exit. 
  5. No discussions about residents with non-residents will be permitted.

OTHER RESIDENTS

  1. Do not ask other residents for money. 
  2. You are not allowed to ask other residents to sign or fill out paperwork for the courts or any other group.
  3. If you have a conflict with anyone in the house, please ask the house team leader, a peer mentor, and then Danetta for support in helping to come to a resolution. 

NEW RESIDENTS:  We will not knowingly move someone into the house who has harmed you or provided stress to you. Please let us know if you have concerns about your safety or ability to live in a shared space with any of the residents based on prior history.