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

Rules and policy

Rules and Policies

Friendship House is a place of refuge. Courtesy, safety, sobriety, and consideration of others are expected.

House rules

Help keep Friendship House safe and available.

The Board is responsible for setting rules and policies for the responsible operation of Friendship House. These rules 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.

Safety and accountability

How policies are handled.

How rules are enforced

The Board has authority over the use of Friendship House property and may prohibit disruptive people from using the premises. Under the bylaws, any Board member may ban a disruptive guest for up to 30 days without prior Board approval.

Disruptive conduct

Disruptive conduct includes behavior that is unruly, disorderly, distracting, unsettling, or violates Friendship House rules. Serious or repeated conduct may result in a longer or permanent ban following Board action.

Harassment policy

Harassment toward any person, including uninvited verbal comments of a sexual nature or uninvited physical contact, will not be tolerated. Reports may be made to a board member, the house manager, the cashier, or staff, and complaints are handled with confidentiality.

Investigation

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

Possible sanctions

Depending on severity and frequency, sanctions may include a verbal reprimand, written warning, a 30-90 day or longer ban, or a permanent ban. Criminal conduct is reported to police and results in an immediate ban.

Records and privacy

Board members serve without compensation. Financial interests 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.

Confidential reporting

Report an incident or grievance.

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.