Client Information

Client Information and Rules

• When you leave the House of Hope, you must give the exact location of where you are going (name, address, and telephone number), as well as when you expect to get back. Times must be realistic and will be approved by House of Hope staff. Your daily leave passes will be determined by your release status (DP, FPR, FPV, SRV, SRR) and progress made while in the community. While away from the facility, you must maintain contact through regular call-ins from the location that you are signed out to, your place of employment, and with any change of destination. You must also provide a valid number so that staff can check and monitor your whereabouts. Consistent refusal to do so will affect your leave privileges. All clients must spend a minimum of six consecutive hours at the House of Hope every day
• You will be given a curfew time (likely 21:00 hours to begin). Curfews are firm, and must be strictly adhered to. If an emergency situation arises and you cannot return to the House of Hope by your curfew time, you must call the facility immediately to advise staff.
• Weekend passes are a privilege that you can apply for. The timeframe for eligibility, as with day passes, will depend on your release status and progress. Applications must include the name, address, and telephone number of where you are going, and received by the Wednesday before (latest) to ensure that your Parole Officer and House of Hope staff have enough time to approve it. Once you return from a weekend or any overnight pass, you must remain at the House of Hope for six consecutive hours before you are allowed to leave property. If you want a (weekend) pass, a community assessment has to be completed before the pass is to be taken to that destination. This is done at the discretion of your Parole Supervisor. If there are any changes to the information on your pass, it is your responsibility to contact the House of Hope and have it approved by staff. The House of Hope may contact the person indicated on your pass to verify your whereabouts. Passes are normally for 48 hours, usually starting Friday at 16:00 hours to Sunday at 21:00 hours (or your curfew). Passes from 48 hours to 72 hours must first be approved by your parole supervisor. All passes (day or overnight) taken outside the 50km radius of the city of Ottawa, or the province of Ontario need a travel permit, which you must receive from your Parole Supervisor. See the outlined visual synopsis for leave privileges:

CURFEWS

* 4 hour sign outs to begin unless working. Over time and with good progress in the community you may be eligible for passes longer than four hours. Your sign out times will be determined by CRF staff.
* 4 hour sign outs to begin unless working. Over time and with good progress in the community you may be eligible for passes longer than four hours. Your sign out times will be determined by CRF staff.

Weekend Passes

Remember that you are expected to complete regular call-ins while on weekend pass as with other facility leave privileges.

• With the permission of the staff on duty, clients may receive visitors between 16:00 hours and 22:00 hours from Monday to Friday. On weekends, visitors are permitted from 10:00 hours to 22:00 hours. All visitors must sign in with their full names and signatures and present appropriate identification. Visitors are restricted to the main floor, and are not allowed under any circumstances on any other floor. Clients are responsible for their guests, who are also subject to House of Hope rules and regulations while visiting.
• You must have your own personal hygiene items. You cannot borrow or lend money or property to residents or staff.
• The House of Hope is a smoke-free facility, therefore, you cannot smoke anywhere within the residence.
• Everyone is responsible for cooking their own meals (before 24:00) and cleaning their own dishes and putting them away. You are expected to purchase your own groceries and will be provided with a daily food allowance which will be dispensed twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays before 0900). Should you qualify, you will also be given a Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) daily allowance, which is dispensed on Fridays again before 0900. Should you become employed, your CSC allowance will end. If you are unable to work and feel that the House of Hope’s daily food allowance does not meet your needs, you can request a reassessment.
• Exit doors, fire escapes and the rooftop are only to be used if there is a fire. Anyone who uses these areas face disciplinary action. You will be shown where these exits are located. The facility is armed between the hours of 24:00 and 06:00 daily.
• You are expected to keep your sleeping area clean and tidy, and to clean up after yourself. All clothes and personal belongings must be put away. You will be assigned a chore at intake which is to be done throughout the day.
• You can have a motor vehicle if you have a valid driver’s license, proper insurance, and if your documents are in order. All such documents must be submitted to House of Hope staff. You are responsible for parking.
• You cannot use physical force or violence while staying at the House of Hope. Threats and/or assaults to staff or other clients will be dealt with severely. All residents responsible for damages to House of Hope property will be required to reimburse the organization for such damages.
• You cannot possess or consume alcohol and/or illegal substances while staying at the House of Hope. If you are found under the influence of any intoxicants, you will be subject to disciplinary action and urinalysis testing. If you violate any of your National Parole Board (NPB) special conditions, the Correctional Service of Canada will be immediately notified and you will be subject to all penalties that apply.
• The House of Hope is not responsible for loss or damage to your personal belongings. We suggest you do not keep anything of great value at the facility. Only four boxes of belongings measuring two cubic feet will be allowed into the facility; you will be asked to remove all other property.
• You must show respect and courtesy to all visitors, members of the staff team, as well as other residents. Yelling, cursing, or whistling at neighbors is not acceptable. You must always be fully dressed throughout the house.
• You must keep House of Hope staff aware of any medical concerns, and all prescription medication(s), which must be kept in the front office. You must also keep House of Hope staff aware of any new community contacts, changes in employment and always providing the full details of these or any other changes.
• Residents are not permitted to sleep in the common living area.
• Residents may receive personal phone calls on the designated resident line (230-4645). A payphone is available for long distance calls.
• Reasons for termination from the program/residency include: the consistent failure to abide by the rules (such as the non-smoking policy), the use of violence within the facility and outside; the use of alcohol and drugs while at the facility; breaches of your NPB conditions, unwillingness to actively participate in your correctional plan including non-attendance in community programming and meeting with your caseworker to review goals; destruction of House of Hope property; re-offending; the misuse of prescribed medication; and any other behaviour(s) that put the facility, its clients or its staff at risk.
• All inappropriate behavior will be communicated to C.S.C. including any signs/information of a breach of your NPB conditions, breach of house rules and any indication of an elevation in risk/needs.
• The House of Hope is staffed 24-7 so there is always someone to address your concerns. You will be assigned a primary caseworker who will review your personal goals and ensure that these goals fit with your overall supervision plan as denoted by your parole supervisor and your correctional plan. The House of Hope also provides correctional programming at the facility’s program room including (PSW, AAA, CMP, and NSAP – Low/M when required and scheduled by CSC).
• The House of Hope reserves the right to search your room and possessions without prior notice as part of its overall preventive security measures. Additionally, any suspicious item(s) will be seized including contraband and reported to CSC. Any seized property will be returned only upon the approval of CSC.