House Rules & Procedures
These rules keep every home safe, calm and fair for everyone. They apply equally to every resident of a house. You'll sign a copy when you move in. Last updated October 2026.
1. Respect
- Treat housemates, staff and neighbors with courtesy. No threats, violence, bullying, harassment or hate speech.
- Quiet hours are 10 pm – 7 am. Use headphones for music, TV and calls.
- Knock and wait before entering any room that isn't yours.
- Keep what you learn about housemates private. Don't share their names, stories or photos.
2. Your room (shared or private)
- Keep your room clean and free of food waste, clutter and pests.
- In a shared room, respect your roommate's space, belongings and sleep. Work out schedules for lights and alarms together; ask staff to help if you can't agree.
- Don't swap rooms, move furniture between rooms, paint or add locks without staff approval.
- Staff may inspect rooms once a month with at least 24 hours' notice, between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., and at any time in an emergency.
- No candles, incense, space heaters, hot plates or extension cords in bedrooms.
3. Kitchen, chores and laundry
- Clean up right after cooking. Wash, dry and put away your dishes the same day.
- Label your food with your name and date. Don't take food that isn't yours.
- Do your assigned chores on the weekly chore chart. Chores rotate every week.
- Use the laundry on your scheduled day and remove clothes promptly.
- Take trash and recycling out when full and on collection days.
4. Safety and security
- Keep outside doors locked. Never prop doors open or share door codes or keys.
- Common areas and the outside of every home are video monitored (video only, no audio). There are never cameras in bedrooms or bathrooms. Never cover, move, unplug or damage a camera or security device. Tampering is a serious safety violation.
- Never cover, unplug or remove a smoke or carbon-monoxide alarm. Report any beeping right away.
- Keep hallways and exits clear. Join quarterly fire drills.
- Store your own medications in your personal lockbox. Never share medications.
- Report any leak, broken lock, pest or hazard to staff the same day.
5. Not allowed on the property
- Weapons of any kind, including firearms and fireworks.
- Illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, and selling any substance.
- Alcohol only in moderation in your own room, never in common areas. Being intoxicated in a way that disturbs others is never allowed.
- Smoking or vaping indoors. Use only the outdoor smoking area.
- Pets of any kind. (Service and assistance animals for people with disabilities aren't pets. Ask about them as a reasonable accommodation.)
6. Guests
- Veterans and Senior homes: guests are welcome 9 am – 9 pm in shared living areas. Tell staff a day ahead and sign guests in. Guests stay in common areas, not bedrooms, and must leave by 9 pm.
- Women's Residence: no guests at the house, and never share the address, take photos of the outside, or post your location online. Meet visitors off-site.
- No overnight guests in any home, at any time.
- You are responsible for your guests' behavior.
7. Community life
- Come to the weekly house meeting at a time set by each house. It's where chores, concerns and house plans are decided.
- There's no curfew. Let staff know if you'll be away overnight, so no one worries. If you're gone a long time without paying rent or telling us, Florida law may treat your room as abandoned.
- Meet with staff monthly to review your Resident Goal Plan, if you'd like.
8. Parking and vehicles
- Register your vehicle with staff. Park only in assigned spaces. No vehicle repairs on the property.
How things work
Paying rent
Rent is due on the 1st and late after the 5th (late fee $50). Pay by money order or bank transfer. You always get a receipt. Talk to staff before the 1st if you'll be short; we'll try to set up a plan.
Repairs
Tell staff, or use the house manager number you receive at move-in, and send a photo if you can. We respond to urgent problems (no water, leaks, broken locks, no A/C in extreme heat) within 24 hours. Others within 7 days.
Raising a concern
Talk to the house manager, or fill out a Grievance Form (anonymous is OK). You'll get an answer within 5 business days. You'll never be punished for complaining.
Asking for an accommodation
If you have a disability and need a change to a rule or your room (an assistance animal, a ground-floor room, a different chore), ask staff in writing or out loud. We answer within 10 business days.
Emergencies
Call 911 first, then the on-call number you receive at move-in. In a fire, get out and go to the meeting spot shown on the posted map.
Moving out
Give at least 30 days' written notice before the end of a monthly rental period. We'll do a walkthrough, collect your keys, and return your deposit (minus any itemized damages) within the time Florida law requires.
If a rule is broken
We use fair, step-by-step responses, and we write each one down.
- 1Friendly reminder. A private conversation with staff.
- 2Written notice. Describes the problem and what needs to change.
- 3Behavior agreement. A signed plan with the director and a review date.
- 4Ending residency. Only with proper written notice and only through the steps Florida law allows.
Violence, weapons, selling drugs, tampering with cameras or security equipment, or sharing the Women's Residence address may skip straight to step 3 or 4. A resident who is the victim of abuse will never be penalized because of the abuser's actions.
Important: Parker's Promise is an independent living housing program, not a medical or care provider. We do not provide medical, nursing, personal care, medication, mental health, counseling or treatment services, and our staff are not medical professionals. Residents arrange any care they need from outside providers of their choice. In an emergency, call 911. Read our Scope of Services.