Policies for use of BHFH public spaces
For individuals and groups using space at Beacon Hill Friends House

Updated 03.15.2023

Current COVID Policies

In addition to offering our meeting and event spaces for public use, BHFH is a full-time home to about 20 people, with 1 additional overnight guest room. As a community striving to welcome outside groups and short-term guests as well as our full-time residents, we want to be clear that our situation is unusual when it comes to Covid-19 protocols. When you enter our space be aware that all of us, guests and residents alike, are sharing some risk of Covid-19 exposure. We ask that you respect our solutions for mitigating this risk.

Our commitments to you:

• All members of our residential community are up-to-date on their vaccinations against Covid-19.
• Staff will wear masks when interacting with you, but residents may not be wearing them full-time as they move through their home.

What we ask from you:

• All visitors to our space must be able to show proof of being up-to-date on vaccination upon entering our building.  
• Please ensure that all members of your group wear a mask at all times while inside our building (unless actively eating or drinking).
• Please ensure that our air purifiers are on and stay on in our space (they should be on at your designated arrival time).
• After years of isolation, and amid ongoing uncertainty, the individuals who live here have varying comfort levels around new people and each have their own standards and boundaries to keep themselves safe and comfortable in their home. Please respect their space, and please don’t take it personally if a resident is unable to interact with you on the level you would desire.

Pets and service animals

We currently have two small support animals living in our building. We have one cat who remains in that resident’s room (you should not see him). There is also currently a small support dog who you may see around our space. You may hear the dog bark when you arrive; she’s just doing her job. She will not become aggressive.

Folks renting our space are not permitted to bring their pets into our home. If you have a service or support animal, please let us know in advance so we can make plans for the animals (and people) who live here.

Please reach out if you have any questions.

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Respect

Beacon Hill Friends House (BHFH) strives to be a welcoming space for all who enter our doors - including you! There are a few things you need to know about respecting boundaries and safety for others while you are here.

BHFH is a private residence—guests renting our space must stay within the public spaces on the 1st floor and ground floor levels. The resident kitchen is not a public space. There are resident bedrooms in the basement hall by the bathroom, next to the parlor, and above the parlor. There are signs marking these private areas, as well as directional signs should you become lost. Please respect our signage and do not go into resident-only spaces.

BHFH celebrates diversity in many forms, including but not limited to age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender, sexual preference or orientation, gender identity, relationship status, and (dis)ability. We recognize that examining our own places in systems of privilege and oppression is crucial to building a community that upholds the equality of all. We expect our guests to be a part of making the Friends House a safe space through their words and actions. We do not tolerate hate speech.

If you have questions about this, or would like us to direct your group to helpful resources, please contact our Program Director, Jennifer Newman, at program@bhfh.org.

Set-up and Clean-up

Our space rental guests are responsible for arranging the furniture according to their own needs, and returning the room to the condition it was when they arrived. If you would like us to set up the room for you, we can provide this service for an additional charge. 

Set up and clean up times must be taken into consideration in reserving the space, and will be included in your bill. You are responsible for returning the room to the condition it was in when you rented it, including rearranging furniture, placing trash and recycling in bins, and sweeping any visible messes.If you anticipate that your event will generate more than one large garbage bag and/or one bin or recycling, please let us know in advance so we can have a conversation about its disposal.  

Greeting your Guests

Because we are both a residence and community space, we often have people entering and exiting the building.

Each group using BHFH space is responsible for greeting its guests/attendees and directing them to the area of the rental, by having someone posted at the door for the entire duration of the group’s or event’s arrival period. With advance notice, BHFH may be able to provide this service for an additional $15/hour. For security reasons, exterior doors may never be left open.

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Food and Drink

Events in the Meeting Room may include meals. We do not allow the serving of meals in the Parlor, although tea, coffee, and personal snacks are fine as long as the group is mindful of spills. Food and drink should never be set on the piano.

If guests will be consuming food or drink during the rental, please coordinate with the Program Director about using the Meeting Room or Dining Room for that portion of your event. We have a small kitchenette by the Meeting Room that can be used for staging and reheating foods. There is limited storage, refrigeration, and freezer space available. Please coordinate with us ahead of time if you would like to use the kitchenette.

If you wish to serve alcohol at your event, you must have it approved by us in advance. The Beacon Hill Friends House maintains a welcoming space where people who wish to avoid alcohol will be comfortable. To that end, we allow alcohol consumption only in moderation and with prior approval. Conspicuous or otherwise disruptive intoxication of guests is not acceptable.

I have read, understand and agree to abide by these policies:

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