Recovery All Ways

Participant Rights & Shared Responsibilities

RAW is a harm reduction, no-barrier community-care space. This Code is here to protect dignity, safety, and access for participants, volunteers, and staff, while meeting people where they’re at.

Rights

What you can expect at RAW: You have the right:

  • To be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion
  • To feel as safe as possible while accessing services
  • To access services without shame, judgment, or discrimination
  • To ask for help and be met with care and patience
  • To access support even if you are under the influence, as long as it’s safe to do so
  • To a space that aims to be clean, welcoming, and trauma-informed
  • To have your privacy respected (within the limits of safety and mandatory reporting)
  • To receive information in a way you can understand (and to request language support when available)
  • To give feedback and raise concerns without retaliation
  • To be told clearly what boundaries exist and why (we’ll explain the “why,” not just the “no”)

If you have a concern or complaint

  • Talk to the Shift Lead or ask any volunteer to connect you to a Lead or Board Member
  • You can also email info@recoveryallways.org and address it to “All Board Members”
  • Or call 585-3100-RAW

Responsibilities

How we keep RAW safe and open for everyone: To help keep RAW accessible and welcoming, we ask that you:

  • Treat others on-site with basic respect, even when you’re having a hard day
  • Follow reasonable directions from staff and volunteers, especially for safety
  • Help keep the space as calm and safe as possible
  • Keep outside conflicts outside the space
  • No weapons on-site
  • Do not damage the space, supplies, or equipment
  • Respect people’s personal space and privacy
  • Do not use threats, intimidation, or physical harm toward anyone
  • Do not exchange, sell, or distribute substances on-site
  • Help reduce harm by:
    • Using sharps containers when available
    • Not leaving used supplies behind
    • Not sharing equipment
  • No solicitation on-site (no pressuring people for money, rides, items, or favors)

What happens if there’s a problem

RAW uses a restorative, not punitive approach whenever possible. That can look like:

  • A check-in conversation
  • A reminder of boundaries
  • A pause from the space for the day (cool-down)
  • A safety plan or support connection
  • If safety is at risk, we may ask someone to leave immediately

Our Commitment

RAW is committed to harm reduction, dignity, and doing no further harm. We’ll do our best to communicate clearly, de-escalate with care, and keep this space open for the people who need it.

This Code is meant to support access, clarity, and safety for everyone who comes through our space.