Staff Policy Library

Governance Manual

Internal staff-view copy. Official adoption requires Board approval and version control.

Policy 101 — Mission Statement

Battlefield Lighthouse Human Services Community Resource Center exists to provide safe emergency shelter, compassionate support, housing stabilization, and coordinated human services to adults experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Services are delivered with dignity, professionalism, accountability, and the love of Jesus Christ while remaining available without unlawful discrimination.

Governance Structure

The Center shall be governed by one Board of Directors and one standing Executive & Governance Committee. The Board protects the mission, approves policies, oversees finances, evaluates the Executive Director, and safeguards long-term sustainability.

Scripture Foundation

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” — John 8:12

Adult Low-Barrier Shelter Operations

Internal staff-view copy. Official adoption requires Board approval and version control.

Policy 205 — Eligibility

The Center operates as an adult emergency shelter serving individuals 18 years of age or older. Children are not permitted for overnight shelter. Adults accompanied by minor children shall be referred to appropriate family shelter providers and community resources.

Low-Barrier Admission

Admission shall not be denied solely because an adult lacks identification, income, employment, treatment participation, or sobriety, unless immediate safety cannot reasonably be maintained.

Daily Operations

The shelter operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.

Guest Rights & Community Standards

Internal staff-view copy. Official adoption requires Board approval and version control.

Guest Rights

Guests have the right to dignity, respect, nondiscrimination, reasonable safety, access to grievance procedures, confidentiality, and disability accommodations.

Community Standards

Violence, threats, weapons, theft, harassment, vandalism, drug distribution, and tampering with life safety equipment are prohibited. Staff shall use trauma-informed intervention and progressive responses when safe.

Case Management & Housing Navigation

Internal staff-view copy. Official adoption requires Board approval and version control.

Case Management Purpose

Case management assists guests in obtaining permanent housing as quickly as practical while addressing barriers that contribute to homelessness.

Housing Navigation

Housing navigation includes landlord engagement, housing applications, identification recovery, benefits assistance, employment support, move-in coordination, and follow-up when feasible.

Human Resources & Workforce Standards

Internal staff-view copy. Official adoption requires Board approval and version control.

Professional Boundaries

Employees and volunteers shall not loan money to guests, borrow from guests, enter romantic or sexual relationships with guests, exploit guests, accept significant gifts, or conduct personal business with guests.

Required Training

Training includes trauma-informed care, de-escalation, confidentiality, emergency procedures, professional boundaries, infection prevention, and workplace safety.

Safety, Security & Emergency Operations

Internal staff-view copy. Official adoption requires Board approval and version control.

Safety Objectives

The Center shall protect life, reduce injuries, prevent violence, maintain safe facilities, protect assets, prepare for emergencies, and restore operations promptly.

Overdose Response

When overdose is suspected, staff shall call 911, administer naloxone if trained and authorized, monitor breathing, remain with the individual, and document the incident.

Facilities & Environmental Operations

Internal staff-view copy. Official adoption requires Board approval and version control.

Facilities Standard

The facility shall be clean, sanitary, safe, accessible when feasible, and maintained according to applicable health, fire, and building requirements.

Food Service

Food shall be safely received, stored, prepared, served, and documented. Unsafe food shall not be served.

Finance, Procurement & Administration

Internal staff-view copy. Official adoption requires Board approval and version control.

Financial Stewardship

Resources shall be managed with transparency, accountability, and integrity. Restricted gifts shall be used only for donor-designated purposes unless modified according to law.

Fraud Prevention

Suspected fraud, theft, embezzlement, misuse of assets, and falsified records shall be reported and investigated promptly.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

Internal staff-view copy. Official adoption requires Board approval and version control.

Quality Program

The Center shall monitor occupancy, housing placements, guest satisfaction, incidents, staff training, documentation, financial performance, and corrective actions.

Corrective Action

Deficiencies shall be documented with root cause, responsible person, target date, evidence of completion, and verification of closure.

Training Academy & Implementation Guide

Internal staff-view copy. Official adoption requires Board approval and version control.

Training Standard

Every employee and volunteer shall receive training appropriate to their role before working independently.

Implementation

The manual shall be adopted by Board resolution, published on the internal portal, trained to employees and volunteers, audited periodically, and revised through document control.