ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HOSPITALITY HOUSE

MISSION STATEMENT “I was a stranger and you welcomed me in” (Matthew 25:35).  Asbury United Methodist Church’s Hospitality House offers safe and affordable temporary housing for outpatients, family members and care givers of persons who are undergoing treatment at the LaCrosse area hospitals and hospice.  

THE HOUSE The Hospitality House, 1810 Redfield St., LaCrosse, WI, is the former parsonage adjacent to Asbury United Methodist Church.  The house is about one mile from the LaCrosse area hospitals and hospice.   The house meets all parsonage standards of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Methodist Church.  Parking in available in front.  The house is not handicap accessible but there is one bedroom and complete bath on the main level.

Asbury Church telephone:  (608) 782-2526

OCCUPANCY Up to eight people, or four unrelated people, may stay at the house at any one time. The Hospitality House offers four guest bedrooms, each with a set of twin beds, a shared living room area, shared kitchen, two bathrooms, and a laundry area with washer and dryer.  There are two televisions and a DVD player, toys, games and puzzles provided.  Bedding, towels, cookware, dinnerware, bath and laundry soap, iron and ironing board are provided.  Guests may cook for themselves, meals are NOT provided. 

STAFFING There will be a Hospitality House director who would be accountable to an Oversight Committee composed of representatives from each of the UM churches of our local circuit.

WHO MAY STAY AT THE HOUSE Family members or caregivers from out of town attending to patients who are undergoing care at the hospitals or hospice and people receiving out-patient care for physical treatments, may stay at the Hospitality House.  Guests must be physically and emotionally stable, posing no threat to themselves or others.  No one under 18 years old may stay at the house unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.  No person under 18 years old may be present in the house unless a parent or guardian is also present.   

Guests make arrangements to stay at the house through a referral from the chaplains or social services staff of the hospital or hospice. 

If room is available, guests are asked to register no later than 6:00 PM and no earlier than 9:00 AM.  If this is not possible, special arrangements can be made with the Director or the Asbury Church office staff. 

Guides to public transportation, nearby restaurants, grocery and drug stores will be provided at the Hospitality House. 

When it is time to leave guests will be expected to strip their beds, return all borrowed items to their proper places, remove personal items from the refrigerators, leave the suggested donation, turn in house keys, and fill out a guest evaluation. 

COST Each adult guest is will be asked to give a free-will offering at a suggested rate of $10.00 per night.  But no one will be turned away because of inability to pay.  Children under eighteen years old stay free with parents or guardians.

HOUSE RULES Guests will be given an outer door key, a bedroom key and may come and go as needed.  Doors to the outside will be kept locked at all times.  Bedrooms can be locked and secured by the guests.  Guests will be expected to pick up after themselves, leave no messes behind and be courteous to the other guests.  A quiet time will be observed from 9:00 PM to 9:00 AM.  Guests are expected to check out at the time of dismissal from the medical facility.  If guests return to their own homes for a night they must check out.    

TRANSPORTATION We can not at this time offer transportation.    

RESTRICTIONS No pets, alcoholic beverages, use of tobacco products, illegal drugs or firearms are permitted in the house or on church property.  All prescription medications must be clearly labeled and kept in the guest’s bedroom or in the mini-refrigerator which is designated for medications.  No guest may invite additional people into the house without the approval of the site director.  The director and church staff have the authority to evict anyone who is disruptive or willfully violates the rules.     

LIABILITY The Asbury Hospitality House is not liable for any personal injury or property loss to a guest which occurs on church property.

The Hospitality House operates within a non-profit status (federal 501c3).

ASBURY HOSPITALITY HOUSE DIRCTOR

QUALIFICATIONS

The director should live close enough to the Hospitality House to be able to come and go conveniently.  The director will have an office at the Hospitality House and will oversee the day to day operation of the house. 

May be male or female, single or married.   

Must be 21 years old or older.

Must be of sound mind and body.

Must exhibit and adhere to Christian character and conviction and view the responsibilities of being a director in terms of Christian ministry. 

Must be friendly and welcoming, extending hospitality to the guests.

Must have own cell phone so that he/she can be reached at all times.

Be accountable to the Asbury Church staff and Hospitality Oversight Committee. 

Willing to obey and enforce Hospitality House rules and procedures. 

No felony criminal convictions and be willing to submit to a criminal background check.

Pass an interview with the Hospitality House Oversight Committee and Asbury UNC Staff-Parish Relations Committee.  It is understood that said committees have the right to terminate the director at any time.

DUTIES

Take guest referrals from the hospitals and hospice.  Help guests check in and out, explain house policies, answer questions, deposit donations at the church office and see to guest needs as much as reasonably possible.  Do not need to provide transportation at any time.     

Make sure church staff and oversight committee are aware of times when absent or unavailable as well as daily status of guest occupancy. 

Keep house neat, clean and tidy including laundering the bed linens and towels to the satisfaction of the oversight committee and church staff and trustees.

ASBURY HOSPITALITY HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

Shall consist of at least one representative from each of the United Methodist Churches of circuit 13, the pastor of Asbury UMC, the Director of the Hospitality House, a representative of the Asbury UMC trustee committee. 

Develop polices and rules for use of the house.

Make sure we are adhering to state and local government requirements. 

Be accountable to the Administrative Council of Asbury United Methdodist Church.  Keep Asbury UMC Trustee Committee aware of anything that needs attention which is the responsibility of the church.

Work with Asbury Church Trustee Committee to make sure there is a schedule of maintenance and upkeep. 

Appoint and oversee a director.  Make sure there is a procedure where referrals and guests can contact the houseparent or church staff. 

Appoint and oversee a house furnishing committee that will furnish the house and keep it stocked with kitchen, cleaning and laundry supplies,

Inspect the house periodically.  Make sure there are Hospitality House brochures available at the hospitals and hospice, brochures at the house with directions to local services, devotional literature.

Make sure guest records, evaluations and donations are accounted for on a weekly basis.