General House hours: 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM daily. Call 615-327-3909.202 23rd Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

House rules and policies

These rules help keep Friendship House safe, sober, welcoming, and available to everyone who uses the House.

Please help us take care of the House.

The Board sets the rules for Friendship House. They apply to everyone on the property.

  1. Alcohol and illegal substances are strictly prohibited.
  2. All weapons and firearms are prohibited.
  3. Criminal activities will not be tolerated, including gambling, threats, harassment, disorderly conduct, theft, loitering, panhandling, property damage, and vandalism.
  4. No sleeping or camping on property.
  5. Animals other than helper dogs are prohibited inside the building. Animals on the property must be restrained on a leash.
  6. Personal property may not be stored here.
  7. Unauthorized and improperly parked vehicles will be towed.
  8. Children must be attended and supervised by an adult.
  9. Courtesy and consideration of others is expected.
  10. Shirts, shoes, and proper attire are required.
  11. No music playing, TV, or other distracting activity is allowed.
  12. Any conduct that interferes with the principles and objectives of Friendship House is prohibited.
  13. All guests are expected to leave the premises at the request of any director or employee.

What happens when a rule is broken

How the rules are enforced

The Board oversees the use of Friendship House property and may ask a disruptive person to leave. Under the bylaws, any Board member may ban a disruptive guest for up to 30 days without prior Board approval.

What disruptive conduct means

Disruptive conduct includes behavior that is unruly, disorderly, distracting, unsettling, or against Friendship House rules. Serious or repeated conduct may lead to a longer or permanent ban after Board action.

Harassment is not allowed

Friendship House does not tolerate harassment, including uninvited sexual comments or physical contact. You may report a concern to a Board member, the house manager, the cashier, or another staff member. Complaints are handled confidentially.

How complaints are reviewed

The Board receives and investigates confidential complaints made to the house manager, a Board member, group chair, or sponsor. A three-member subcommittee investigates each complaint and recommends a response.

Possible responses

Depending on the seriousness and frequency of the conduct, the response may be a verbal reprimand, a written warning, a ban of 30 to 90 days or longer, or a permanent ban. Criminal conduct is reported to police and results in an immediate ban.

Records and conflicts of interest

Board members serve without compensation. A financial interest involving a member, Board member, or officer must be disclosed and authorized by the Board. Friendship House keeps financial records, minutes, and membership records confidential to the extent allowed by law.

This page summarizes public rules and selected governance policies. If it conflicts with the Friendship House bylaws or an adopted Board policy, the controlling document applies.

Tell us what happened

Choose the form that best fits your concern. Your report goes to Friendship House for review.

Incident report

Use this form to report a safety concern, rule violation, harassment concern, or other incident at Friendship House.

Grievance report

Use this form to share a complaint, concern, or grievance about a policy, decision, interaction, or experience.

These forms are not monitored for emergencies. Do not include sensitive medical, financial, or legal records. See our privacy policy.