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Statement of policy
A. Overview This document outlines Menno House policy as it relates to the house functions described in the statement of purpose: medium and long-term residency for Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS) volunteers and others, short-term accommodations for visitors to New York City and others, office and meeting space for residents and members of Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship (MMF), and housing for the Peace and Anabaptist Library.
B. Medium and long-term housing 1. Facilities a. Bedrooms. Each resident stays in one of the ten single or double rooms on the third and fourth floors.
b. Furniture. The rooms generally contain a single bed, a desk, a chair and at least one closet and set of shelves. Some of the larger rooms also have sinks.
c. Bedding. House linens are available to guests and MVS volunteers only.
d. Bathrooms. Each floor has a bathroom that is shared between all the residents on that floor.
e. Air conditioning. Window units are available for the hottest rooms, and for rooms occupied by MVS volunteers. Residents are welcome to purchase and install their own units.
f. Common areas. The living room, dining room, laundry nook and kitchen are shared between residents, guests, and occasionally, by members of MMF.
g. Storage. Residents are assigned refrigerator and cupboard space in the kitchen or dining room, as well as storage space in the basement.
h. Roof. Because of structural and safety concerns, the roof is off-limits.
i. Telephone. The house has two phone lines, available on each floor. There is no provision for private phone lines. Each resident pays a per capita share of the local phone bill and the total of all of his or her long distance, information and other toll calls.
j. Internet. A high-speed connection is available in each resident room. Residents who use the internet pay a portion of the internet service bill.
2. Restrictions a. Term length (1) Medium-term residencies last one to three months
(2) Long-term residencies last three months to one year, with the option to reapply for a second year.
(3) People in church ministry may be granted residency beyond two years.
b. Shares and sublets. (1) Residents are not permitted to sublet or share their rooms without board approval.
(2) The board will consider room shares until the total number of house residents reaches fourteen.
c. Pets. Because of many residents and guests with allergies, Menno House cannot accommodate any animals.
3. Application process and criteria
a. Authority. Selecting house residents is exclusively the responsibility of the Menno House board. b. Process (1) A medium or long-term application form can be obtained from and submitted to the house manager.
(2) The manager keeps all completed applications on file until a room becomes available. At that time, the board meets and reviews all pending applications and invites new residents to fill the openings.
c. Criteria (1) Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS) volunteers assigned to New York City are given priority and are automatically accepted as residents.
(2) Any remaining rooms are offered to applicants who demonstrate a commitment to group living, building a relationship with MMF and serving the wider community.
4. Invitation and acceptance a. The house manager will notify an accepted applicant by phone and mail or e-mail. b. Rent security deposit. (1) When an applicant has been invited, he or she must send the first month’s rent plus a security deposit (equal to one month of rent) immediately to reserve the space.
(2) The security deposit is only refundable until one month before the agreed move-in date, if for any reason the prospective resident does not move into the house.
(3) Similarly, if a resident provides at least one month’s notice before moving out of the house, leaves his or her room clean and in good repair, and does not owe the house money for any other reason, the entire security deposit will be returned after he or she leaves.
(4) Menno House does not collect security deposits from MVS volunteers.
c. Phone security deposit. (1) Prospective residents also must pay a $50 phone deposit. When they move out of the house, lingering phone, internet and other charges will be deducted from their deposit and the balance will be returned.
(2) Menno House does not collect phone deposits from MVS volunteers.
d. Room selection (1) If incoming residents need specific rooms (for instance, a married couple requires a large room) the board, acting through the manager, may reserve rooms for them.
(2) Otherwise, the manager makes the vacant rooms available first to current tenants, then to new ones, in the order that they move into the house.
5. Bills and payment
a. Bills (1) The manager delivers bills to residents on the first day of each month.
(2) Residents are expected to pay the manager within ten days of receiving their bill.
(3) A resident may be required to move out if payment is overdue by more than one month.
b. Rent (1) Rent is based on the size of each room.
(2) Rates are reviewed annually. It is the intention of MMF to keep rental rates as low as possible.
(3) The rental fee includes the following services: a minimally furnished room; a furnished common kitchen; storage space in the kitchen and basement; laundry, garden, living room and other house facilities; heating oil, gas and electricity; cleaning and maintenance supplies. Telephone and internet services are billed separately.
(4) When a room is shared, 25 percent of the base rent is added, and the total rent is divided between occupants.
(5) Residents who move in or out in the middle of a month may be charged a proportional amount of the rent for that month.
(6) The board of directors may authorize rental subsidies for people engaged in full-time church ministry.
6. Invited guests of residents a. Accommodation and cost (1) Residents may let friends sleep in their rooms at no charge.
(2) If a resident or a friend of a resident is ready to go to sleep and a guest room has not been reserved for that night, they may sleep in it free of charge, on the condition that they clean the room and change the bed sheets afterward.
(3) Residents are also given four guest room passes every six months. One pass pays for one guest room for one night, regardless of the number of people sleeping there. Passes not used during their six-month period become void.
b. Duration (1) Visits of more than a week are discouraged.
(2) Visitors who want to stay two weeks or more must reserve a guest room.
(3) Those who wish to stay a month or more must apply for short-term residency and be approved by the board.
c. Community impact (1) We ask that residents recognize the effect of overnight visitors on group life: shower schedules, TV use, community meals, noise, etc.
(2) Out of consideration for the diverse morals of residents, guests and members of MMF, we strongly discourage sex between people who are not life partners.
(3) Each resident is responsible for all actions of anyone whom he or she invites to Menno House while that person is on the premises.
7. Other resident responsibilities
a. Cleaning (1) Each resident is responsible for cleaning his or her own room.
(2) Residents take turns at kitchen and bathroom cleaning on a week-by-week basis.
(3) Residents are also expected to participate in a general cleaning day, which the manager organizes two times a year.
(4) Other cleaning jobs are divided among residents who wish to work in return for rental rebates.
b. House meetings are held as needed, generally once a month. All residents are asked to attend. The meetings are arranged and conducted by the manager.
8. Accountability
a. Neither Menno House nor Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship is liable for injury or damage to a resident or his or her guests unless it results from the negligence of those institutions. b. A resident may be required to move out if he or she is unwilling or unable to live cooperatively within the spirit of the house and the guidelines of this statement.
C. Short-term housing 1. Facilities a. Bedrooms and furnishings. Three guest rooms are on the second floor. They are furnished and air conditioned. Each room has a double or a queen size bed on the floor level, as well as a loft that holds one to three additional mattresses. The largest room sleeps six.
b. Bedding. Towels and linens are provided.
c. Bathroom. The guest bathroom is on the first floor and is shared between all guests.
d. Common areas. The house kitchen, garden, TV room and other living spaces are available to guests, but must be shared with long-term residents.
e. Storage. Guests have access to a small refrigerator.
f. Telephone and internet. Guests are welcome to make local and calling-card calls free of charge. There is no internet service in the guest rooms.
2. Restrictions a. Term length. No one may stay longer than a month in any six-month period.
b. Large groups. Parties of up to 15 people are welcome, space permitting, with the understanding that they will do the vast majority of their eating and meeting outside of Menno House.
c. Pets. Because of many guests and residents with allergies, we cannot accommodate animals.
3. Reservations Guests may reserve a room by calling the manager.
4. Deposit a. To confirm the reservation, the first night must be paid in advance.
b. That deposit is refundable until one month before the first day of the reservation, should the guest cancel their reservation entirely.
c. Guests may modify the length of their reservation at any time without penalty.
5. Bills and payment a. The remainder of the bill (less the deposit) must be paid before the guest leaves.
b. Guests who stay for longer than a week may settle their bill at the end of each week.
6. Other guest responsibilities a. Guests are expected to conduct themselves with consideration for everyone who uses Menno House. b. Specifically, guests should: (1) not monopolize the bathroom, TV or conversation;
(2) wash their dishes and wipe off the counter after preparing food;
(3) not eat food that belongs to house residents
(4) leave current newspapers and magazines downstairs;
(5) take care of household items such as the washer and dryer;
(6) store personal items in their own room (Menno House is not responsible for belongings that are lost, left behind or stolen);
(7) not smoke inside (people may smoke outside if they pick up their cigarette butts);
(8) keep noise to a minimum between 10:00 at night and 9:00 in the morning; and
(9) make sure the front gate and back door are closed and locked when not in use.
7. Accountability Guests who do not abide by house guidelines may be refused accommodation.
D. Office and meeting space 1. Office a. The office is located at the front of the second floor.
b. It is primarily for the use of a church pastor. The church secretary, treasurer, and Menno House manager negotiate office use with the pastor.
2. Meeting space a. MMF participants and house residents may occasionally use parts of the house to host organizational, social, and religious events.
b. People may reserve meeting space at the house by contacting the house manager.
c. Those who attend functions at Menno House are responsible for setting up before and cleaning up after their event.
E. Peace and Anabaptist Library 1. The library is housed on the first floor of Menno House.
2. Appointments may be made with the MMF office.
3. Books in the collection that are designated as circulating may be checked out for a period of one month.
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