Common Room Rules
What is appropriate footwear for the common room?
Any type of shoes!
When staff have the office doors closed but you want to speak with them, what should you do?
Unless there is an emergency, please wait until staff open the office doors. We have them closed for shift changes, private conversations, or when we need quiet time to be able to finish a task. Frequent interruptions at the doors can make these take even longer!
Is it acceptable to ask your co-residents for cigarettes?
No, we discourage cigarette-sharing at Eaton, and if you want cigarettes, you must purchase your own.
Are substances allowed in the building?
No, Eaton is a substance-free program. You are permitted to use off of the property and return to the building, though you may be asked to stay in your room if you return to the building intoxicated.
How do you get a treat that's given out during group programming?
You participate in the ENTIRE group!
What should you do with your dirty dishes if the dishwasher is full and running?
Wash them with soap and water and put them in the drying rack in the sink
What are some things that staff ARE able to help you with?
Managing your medications, booking medical appointments, building life skills, cooking scheduled meals, administering first aid, goal setting, supporting your mental health, managing your money, developing programming for you to participate in, and working with you and your clinic worker to find housing placements if you are leaving Eaton.
What should you do if you are experiencing conflict with a co-resident?
First, if it is a small conflict, try to solve it on your own; remember that it is not up to staff to manage your personal relationships. If the conflict grows, or it is a serious issue where you feel unsafe or that you're being harassed/bullied, talk to staff and explain what is going on. At this point, it is your responsibility to avoid engaging with the person you have conflict with, and to allow staff to handle the situation.
Where are you allowed to smoke cigarettes/vapes?
Cigarettes and vapes are allowed on the balcony only. Your suites are smoke-free!
What can you do to earn stickers each month?
There are a variety of ways to earn stickers! For example, you could do tasks on the common room cleaning list, sign up to cook meals with staff, help staff with groceries, participate in group programming, or anything else to help out around the program.
If you make a mess in the common room (spills, dirty dishes, cooking items left out, crumbs on the couch, etc.), whose responsibility is it to clean up?
What are some things that staff ARE NOT able to help you with?
Extending our services to your friends/family, doing basic self-care tasks for you such as laundry or cleaning your room, providing van rides for leisure purposes, providing van rides without a 24-hour notice, managing your personal purchases, having involvement in your leisure activities, and having involvement in your personal relationships.
Why is it a bad idea to lend money to your co-residents or buy items for them?
You may not be repaid, and staff cannot help you to get your money back.
How many snacks, milk, yogurt, coffee, and tea are you allowed to have each day?
You are allowed 2 of each within every 24 hours (not per shift!)
What should you do if you have a building maintenance-related concern about your suite?
Let staff know! Staff will most likely not be able to directly fix the issue for you, but we will call the property manager to have building maintenance staff come in and fix it.
What behaviors might result in a temporary ban from the common area?
Verbal abuse towards staff and/or co-residents, heavy intoxication, and physically unsafe actions such as fighting.
What does it look like to ask staff for help in an appropriate manner?
Come to the office door and check to see which staff are available and which are occupied. Talk to the available staff by explaining what you need and how they can help you. Please do not yell for staff from the common room or the hallway, and unless there is an emergency, please do not interrupt staff when they notify you that they are occupied with another task or resident!
What does it look like to respect your co-residents' personal space?
Make sure not to enter their "bubble" without asking first. Consent is important even for casual touch, so make sure to check that it's okay before hugging, patting, leaning up against, or sitting very close to someone. It's important to remember that we may not know everyone's trauma history, and physical touch can be very triggering for some people.
Where do you need to come to get your meds?
With few exceptions, you need to come to one of the two office doors to get your medication. Staff will not bring your medication to you.
What are some rules that apply to the balcony?
It's your responsibility to help keep the balcony clean; your cigarette butts must be put out and disposed of in the ashtray/garbage, you cannot spit on the balcony, and if you make a mess, you need to clean it up!
Why do we have rules around limiting certain content on the common room TV (Ex: no excessive gore, sexual content, or drug use)?
Some content can be triggering for others in the program, and we must be mindful of things that can be common triggers (such as graphic violence). It is important to always remember that we may not know the full extent of what everyone living here has been through, and we want to keep our common room safe and comfortable for everyone.
What is an inappropriate use of the door between the office and the common room?
Repetitively coming back and forth to the door without clearly expressing your needs and/or standing at the door to talk to staff, even after staff have expressed that they are busy, is not an appropriate use of the door.
How do you set a healthy boundary with a co-resident?
Make sure to use assertive communication skills. This includes using "I" statements to explain the boundary from your perspective, being direct and clear, and ensuring that you remain respectful to the person you are setting the boundary with.
How much time do you need to book the van in advance of your planned ride?
You must book the van a full 24 hours before your ride takes place (which means that you can't book the van in the evening for a ride the next morning!)
What rules apply to bringing guests over to your suite?
When you bring a guest over, you must first check them in at the office. If they are a new guest, you must also have them approved for visiting by your ICM or Tovah. Visiting hours are from 8:30 AM to 11:00 PM. While you have your guest over, you both must be respectful and follow Eaton's rules. If staff are concerned about you and/or your guest not following program rules, your guest will be asked to leave, and if this is a repeated problem, your guest will be removed from the approved list.