Guidelines

Official Guidelines

1. No use of tobacco products will be permitted at any time. Violation of this rule is grounds for immediate dismissal.
2. Medications can only be used under the direction of our leadership.  We must be very sure to turn all medication over at our first interview.  Possession of any drugs or alcohol is grounds for immediate dismissal.  Medication allotment is monitored by the leadership.
3. We will practice proper personal hygiene by bathing daily, brushing our teeth regularly, and wearing clean clothing every morning.  If we need toiletry articles or clothing we ask our team leader.
4. Proper clothing must be worn for the various activities.  No work clothes in the dining hall.
5. Large sums of money have a way of taking us out of the program. We are only permitted to have money for laundry obtained through the canteen.
6. If single or divorced, we do not cultivate romantic relationships while we are a resident in the Village of Hope program.  Romance and regeneration do not mix.  We do not engage in conversation with the opposite sex in church or the spouses of other people in the program.
7. Be courteous to others in the dining hall.  Guests always eat first.  Remember, everyone is going to eat, so there is no need to run up to be first in line.  No one has ever gone hungry at The Village of Hope.
8. Everyone is to be in the dining hall on time for the blessing.
9. We do not remove food, cups, or glasses from the dining hall.  We do not keep food in our rooms. This causes sanitation and bug problems.  All snacks kept in the room must be sealed and put away. No coolers allowed to be used in dorm room.
10. We turn off all lights and fans, when not in use.  No other electrical appliances are permitted in the rooms.   We take personal responsibility for saving fuel and electricity.
11. We do not drive vehicles without permission.  Ask your work crew leader where to park the vehicle at night.  Oil, water and fuel should be checked every day before using vehicles and tractors.
12. Laundry will be your own responsibility and we will use the machines in a respectful manner.  We do not overload the machines, we clean all debris from clothing before loading.  We change and wash our sheets bi-weekly.
13. Privacy:  Each person’s room is their home at the Village of Hope.  We respect their right to privacy.  We do not take articles out of anyone’s room without their consent.  Do not go into an empty dorm room that you do not live in.
14. No radios, TV’s, or stereos are allowed in the dorm.  All time at The Village of Hope should be focused on our recovery.
15. Mail is distributed at the dining hall at supper time.  We do not go to the office to get it.  
16. We do not ask to use the phone, except in emergencies.  We learn to write letters; this is a necessary part of our discipline.
17. There are no trips to town or weekends off while we are in the 10-month program.
18. Everyone must observe “Quiet Time,” every day from 7:25 – 7:55 a.m.  We do not hold conversations during this time.  Everyone should be seated at a selected place, prepared for “Quiet Time” before 7:25 a.m.  New students will have an assigned quiet time partner for the first 6 days.
19. No one is to be on any of the job sites past working hours without permission from a work crew leader or staff member.  This is for the safety of everyone.
20. Everyone is to come to class dressed clean and neat, no work shoes or work boots.  You change into workwear at your work site, locker or other designated space.  There is a whole crew waiting on us so we need to learn responsibility and be at our designated work area on time.  Do not leave your work site during working hours, including break time without staff approval.  No going into the dorms or rooms either for any reason unless you have approval from your work crew leader.
21. We are up and out of bed no later than 6:00 a.m. Monday – Saturday.
22. We make our bed every morning when we get out of it.  We keep our room clean at all times.
23. We do not invite guests to visit, eat meals, or stay overnight, without permission from leadership and the program director.
24. Undesirable literature is strictly forbidden.  We can’t clean our head out if we continue to feed it garbage.
25. We do not engage in extended conversations about our past life in alcohol or drugs (“war stories”). We have come to The Village of Hope to get away from that lifestyle, not to cultivate it.  We talk about the present and the future, not the past.  If we are having problems in the present that are directly related to a past memory, then of course this is permissible to talk about in order to receive ministry.
26. Our progress in each of these areas will be evaluated weekly:
    1. Room cleanliness – by dorm monitor and staff
    2. Class participation – instructor & small group leader
    3. Work habits – by work crew leader & sociogram
    4. General attitude – by staff & sociogram
27. We do not leave The Village of Hope property with visitors, unless we have special permission from the program director.
28. We do not drink coffee during work hours.  We can eat all we want at mealtime, but we work when we work.  Establishing good work habits is a vital part of rebuilding our life.  A lack of discipline in our work habits reflects a lack of sincerity in our regeneration program.
29. The canteen hours are announced in the dining hall.  Nothing is sold at any other time.  We do not ask for special canteen privileges.  Learning to cope with adverse situations and being sensitive to other people’s needs without reverting to the use of chemicals is a lifelong process, which we will learn to use while here at The Village of Hope.
30. Sunday – Friday you are to be in your dorm by 10:00 p.m. You are to be in your room by 10:30 p.m. Your lights are to be out by 11:00 p.m. Saturday nights be in dorm by 11:00 p.m.  Be in room by 11:30 p.m.  Lights out at 12:00 a.m. midnight. No one of the opposite sex is allowed in the dorms at any time.  A tour of the campus can be arranged through the office.
31. No threatening talk or fighting allowed.  Violation of this rule is grounds for immediate dismissal from the program.
32. The weekend begins Friday at 5 p.m. and lasts until Sunday at 5:30 p.m.  During these hours, when not working or in church, is the only time you may play basketball, volleyball, fish, or play games or instruments.