💨 Guest Departure (discharge)
The guest departure process involves ensuring a smooth and respectful transition for residents who are being discharged from a VSL recovery home.
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Article Table of Contents
Discharge Policy
Reasons for Discharge
- Core Requirements: Violations including relapse, possession of banned substances, violence, or criminal activity
- Payments: Missing rent for more than one week without a payment arrangement established
- Conditions: Developing a state in which you may harm yourself, others, or needs off-site treatment
- Rules: Not following other rules and policies including conduct of guests
Conditions for Immediate Discharge
In these cases, the House Manager must immediately terminate the guest. Approval from the Operator is not required, but House Mentor must notify the Operator immediately after the Discharge. Reasons for immediate Discharge include:
- Being found with drugs or alcohol, or overdose in the home
- Significant act of violence in the home
- Refusing a drug screen or breathalyzer
Other Conditions for Discharge
In all other circumstances, the House Manager must speak with the Operator to discuss the right course of action. Possible actions include Discharge, placing the guest on a 30-day restriction, or other action. Discretion should be made based on the honesty of the guest, their seniority, and other unique circumstances surrounding the event. If a Discharge is the right course of action, you can decide whether to let them back into the house in the future. A partial list of infractions is below:
- Violation of Core Requirements, including relapse, violence, weapons, theft, or criminal activity
- Non-Negative (positive) urine screen or subsequent blood test
- Admitting to using drugs or alcohol outside of the home
- Possessing items on the Banned Substances List
- Discrepancies in prescribed medication (missing pills, having too many)
- Bullying or threatening behavior
- Minor acts of violence
- Possession of a weapon
- Missing rent payments for more than one week without a payment arrangement established
- Non-compliance with rules and requirements of Vanderburgh House, including conduct of guests
- Typically, three write-ups or other repetitive rule-breaking behavior
Witnessed Behavior. A Discharge may be warranted for suspected drug use, even if no proof is found for use of substances. As an Operator, you are trained and experienced in witnessing behavior, and are ultimately responsible for the safety of all guests in the home. If you witness behavior which indicates use of any mind-altering substance, you can make the determination that they appear to be under the influence of a substance and must be Discharged or be subject to other disciplinary action.
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Discharge Procedure
The procedure for a discharge will vary in voluntary or involuntary discharge.
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Voluntary - A voluntary discharge procedure policy is left up to the Operators. It should be organized and straightforward and be beneficial for all parties involved.
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Involuntary - This is described in detail in the aforementioned article, but the decisions made should be final and boundaries should be held during the process.
A resident agrees in the Resident Agreement to leave the home voluntarily within 30 minutes upon Discharge, and to collect their belongings within72 hours (more in the Resident Agreement). We generally do not terminate residents in the middle of the night. You may allow for additional time if the circumstance demands it. Judgement should be used in all cases of resident Discharge to make sure that the home is kept safe and that the resident is treated fairly. Residents should be informed of the entire process and asked for their input on how we can help them in their next step. You can accommodate reasonable requests and help support them while they transition to alternate housing.
3.1. Resident Agreement & Discharge
A resident agrees in the Resident Agreement to leave the home voluntarily within 30 minutes upon Discharge and to collect their belongings within 72 hours (more in the Resident Agreement). You may allow for additional time if the circumstance demands it. Judgment should be used in all cases of resident Discharge to ensure the home is kept safe and that the resident is treated fairly. Residents should be informed of the entire process and asked for their input on how we can assist them in their next step. You can accommodate reasonable requests and help support them while they transition to alternate housing.
3.2. Timeline & Notification
30 minutes’ notice is a short amount of time, but often necessary if a resident is under the influence or otherwise endangering the other residents’ sobriety or safety. This commitment by the resident is subject to amendment by the Operator only if giving more time will not harm other residents.
If a resident leaves the home for any reason, the House Manager must notify the Operator immediately. Even if the Operator is involved, the incident should still be documented on the group chat thread for documentation purposes.
3.3. Resident Assistance
Residents may be driven by an Operator to a detox or rehab facility, or have an Operator coordinate their transport to these facilities (please note: we require Operators to carry appropriate insurance if transporting residents). We strive to support our residents’ success in their next step and must assist them in their transition to a higher level of care. However, be cautious to ensure appropriate insurance coverage and proper staff training if deciding to offer transportation to a Discharged resident.
3.4. Operator Involvement
In the event a resident is Discharged for a drug or alcohol-related offense, the Operator must be present at the home while the resident packs up their belongings. This is to ensure that any contraband is found and properly disposed of.
3.5. Resident File
All contents of a departed resident’s file must be retained in the office. When someone moves out, collect their screening logs, check-in logs, and any paperwork relating to the resident.
4.1. Refusing to Leave
A resident may refuse to be Discharged. House Managers should contact the Operator in this case to discuss the best course of action. The police may be involved if the situation demands it. Discharged residents may make threats or contact other residents to start trouble. Recommend to the house that they avoid communicating with the former resident if they are attempting to cause trouble. A resident refusing to leave should be reminded of their commitment to themselves and their fellow residents, and that by staying, they are breaking that commitment. Encourage the resident to do the “next right thing,” which, in this case, is honoring their commitment by leaving to continue their recovery journey.
4.2. Drug Screen Error
Residents may contest the validity of a drug screen or breathalyzer or may refuse to take the screen. All residents are required to submit to screening, and if a drug screen is contested, they may go to a laboratory (emergency room) for a blood test to challenge the results.
4.3. Police Involvement
If the police are called to assist with a situation at the home, provide the officer(s) with a copy of the Resident Agreement, which outlines the Resident’s commitment not to use drugs or alcohol and to leave if they are Discharged for doing so. Explain that:
- We are a structured recovery residential program, certified by a NARR member organization.
- Residents must abide by rules, including not using drugs or alcohol.
- This resident violated the rules, and for the safety of the home, they must leave.
4.4. Tenant’s Rights
Although the police may assist if the health, safety, or welfare of other residents or the public is threatened, they are not obligated to assist in moving out a resident. In some cases, it may be necessary to obtain a court order compelling the resident to leave. The Resident Agreement states that the resident lives in a sober house and commits to leaving if they violate house rules. Each resident provides a “Permanent Address” in their signed Agreement to ensure they have somewhere to go upon Discharge. These facts can help in obtaining a court order or convincing the resident to leave voluntarily. Operators should be familiar with and comply with local laws.
4.5. Addressing Resident Belongings
- Personal Items: Following Discharge and after the resident’s belongings have been collected or moved, the House Manager must wash their bedding and remake the bed for a new resident. We hold a departed resident’s belongings for up to two weeks, although this isn’t always possible.
- Hazardous Items: Any drugs or illicit substances should be disposed of properly, such as at a pharmacy or police station.
- Unwanted Items: After a reasonable period, abandoned property may be given to current residents, used to help new residents, or made available to the office for use or donation. Any items useful to the home, like toiletries or linens, should be kept for residents in need. Other unwanted items can be donated or discarded.
4.6. Documenting Discharge in Buildium
Navigate to the resident’s file in Buildium and document the event using a “note.” If the Discharge was due to a positive screen, photograph the screen and upload it to Buildium with the note. If another rule was violated, produce an Incident Report, scan it, and upload it to Buildium. Move the resident out in the Buildium system within one business day of their move-out.
4.7. Securing the Building
Either the Operator or House Manager must change the lock code to the home following a Discharge.
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