Resident Handbook

We believe that recovery is built day by day, choice by choice. Our role is to provide a safe environment, a clear structure, and access to the people and tools that support a sober life. Your role is to participate actively, to be honest with yourself and with us, and to take responsibility for your recovery.

We treat every Resident with dignity and respect. We expect the same in return. Disrespect, intimidation, violence, theft and dishonesty have no place here.

Roots to Recovery accommodates adult men, eighteen years and older, in recovery from drug and alcohol dependency. Every Resident has signed the Resident Admission Agreement, has nominated a Responsible Person, and has committed to participating in the programme.

The first week is about settling in. You will be shown around the residence, introduced to staff and to other Residents, allocated a buddy or mentor, and walked through the daily routine. We will help you set up your week, including any medication arrangements, drug testing, and counselling sessions.

Expect to feel unsettled. That is normal. Speak to your mentor, to a counsellor, or to any staff member if you are struggling. Do not isolate yourself.

No overnight leave is granted during the first month. No overnight visitors are permitted during the first month. This is deliberate. The first month is for stabilising and committing to the residence.

Daily life at Roots to Recovery is structured. A predictable routine supports recovery, mental health and physical wellbeing. The daily routine includes time for waking and personal care, meals, group sessions, exercise, mentorship, counselling, recreation, household duties and rest.

Indicative Daily Schedule

The programme adjusts from time to time. Notice of changes will be posted on the house noticeboard and communicated at the morning check-in.

Your participation in the programme is the heart of your stay. The programme combines peer support, professional input, physical wellness and practical reintegration. The components include:

• HEAL meetings: peer-led recovery group meetings that build accountability and shared learning.
• Narcotics Anonymous meetings: on-site and off-site NA meetings.
• Mentorship: a more senior resident or external mentor walks alongside you.
• Addiction counselling: one-on-one sessions with a qualified counsellor.
• Trauma counselling: focused therapeutic work for those who need it.
• Yoga, meditation and mindfulness sessions.
• Exercise programmes, sport and recreation.
• Employment readiness, including CV preparation and job seeking support.
• NGO and employer partnerships to support placement and skills development.
• Motivational and educational speakers.
• Access to a pharmacist for medication management, an emergency doctor, and a certified homeopath.
• Random and routine drug testing throughout the stay.

All meals served at Roots to Recovery are vegetarian. The kitchen does not prepare, store or serve meat, poultry or fish. Raw meat, poultry or fish may not be brought onto the premises or stored in any refrigerator, freezer, pantry, room or storage area belonging to the Facility.

You may eat non-vegetarian food when you are off the premises during permitted leave or outings. Non-vegetarian leftovers may not be brought back onto the premises.

Three meals are served each day. Snacks, fruit and refreshments are available between meals. Special dietary requirements (allergies, religious requirements, medical needs) should be raised with the Facility Manager so that we can plan accordingly.

Residents take turns assisting with kitchen duties as part of the chore rotation. Hygiene, cleanliness and respect for shared space are non-negotiable.

Visiting hours are limited to Saturdays and Sundays between 09h00 and 17h00. Visitors must produce identification at the gate, sign the visitor register, and submit to a search of any bag or item brought onto the premises.

Only the Registered Responsible Person may sign you out of the residence. The Responsible Person may, in writing and in advance, authorise an additional named visitor to sign you out for a specific period.

During your first month, no overnight leave is permitted and no overnight visitors are permitted.

After your first month, weekend leave may be granted at the discretion of the Facility. Weekend leave runs from Friday at 17h00 (departure window 17h00 to 20h00) and you must return by Sunday at 17h00.

Visitors may not bring onto the premises alcohol, illegal drugs, cannabis in any form, marijuana, cannabidiol (CBD) products, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products, drug paraphernalia, mind-altering substances or unapproved medication. Visitors who breach the visitor policy will be removed and may be permanently refused entry.

Mobile phones are permitted, subject to the daily programme. Phones must be set aside during group sessions, counselling, meals and lights out. Loud calls in shared areas are not acceptable.

You may make and receive calls from family and approved contacts. You may not communicate with persons or places that endanger your recovery.

Social media use should be considered carefully. You may not post photographs, videos or audio of staff, of other Residents, or of any identifiable activity at the Facility, without express written permission.

If you are receiving unwelcome contact from a person who is contributing to relapse risk, raise it with the Facility Manager. We can help.

Smoking and vaping are permitted only in the designated smoking areas. The designated areas will be pointed out to you on admission.

Smoking or vaping anywhere else on the premises (bedrooms, bathrooms, communal living areas, balconies, gardens, vehicles) attracts an immediate disciplinary penalty of R200,00 per incident, payable by you or your Responsible Person.

Repeated breaches will be treated as a disciplinary matter and may result in further sanctions up to and including termination.

Random and routine drug and alcohol testing forms part of your stay. Tests may be conducted at any time, with or without notice.

Refusing a test, evading a test, providing an inadequate sample or interfering with a sample is treated as a positive result.

A positive result triggers the Relapse Response Procedure. The aim is to keep you safe, to address the relapse honestly, and to reset your recovery where possible.

The following items may not be brought onto or kept on the premises:

• Alcohol in any form.
• Illegal drugs and controlled substances.
• Cannabis or marijuana in any form (dried, processed, edible, vaped or otherwise).
• Cannabidiol (CBD) products (oils, tinctures, capsules, gummies, creams, vapes, beverages).
• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products.
• Drug paraphernalia (pipes, bongs, grinders, scales, rolling apparatus, syringes).
• Weapons (firearms, ammunition, knives other than ordinary kitchen utensils issued by the Facility, batons, knuckle-dusters, any item intended or adapted to cause injury).
• Pornographic material.
• Any medication that has not been disclosed to and approved by the Facility.

By signing the Resident Admission Agreement you consent to the searching of your person, your room, your vehicle, your bags, your belongings and any property brought onto or kept on the premises. Searches may take place at any reasonable time, with or without notice.

Refusal to submit to a search is a serious disciplinary offence and may result in immediate termination.

Disclose every medication you take and any change in your medication, immediately and in writing.

All chronic and prescribed medication is packaged by the appointed pharmacist into weekly compliance packs. Medication is stored by the Facility in a locked cabinet. Weekly compliance packs are issued to you every Sunday.

You are responsible for taking your medication as prescribed. The Facility accepts no responsibility for compliance, missed doses or adverse reactions arising from non-compliance.

Bring any medication question to the staff on duty or to the visiting pharmacist.

Do not bring items of significant monetary or sentimental value onto the premises.

The Facility accepts no responsibility for cash, valuables, jewellery, electronics, clothing, documents or personal items. A small safe may be available for limited storage at the discretion of the Facility.

Every item of personal property must be declared on admission and recorded in the Personal Property Register. Declare additional items when they arrive.

You are liable for any damage you cause to Facility property, to the property of other Residents, to the property of staff, or to the property of visitors.

We share the work of running the residence. Chore rotations cover kitchen support, communal area tidying, garden duties and the maintenance of your own room and bathroom.

Your bed must be made, your room tidy, your bathroom clean and your washing kept in order. Inspections may take place at any reasonable time.

Treat shared spaces as you would your own home. Pick up after yourself. Wash your dishes. Do not waste food. Do not waste water or electricity.

Roots to Recovery is a community of people in recovery. Respect underpins everything. We do not tolerate:

• violence, threats of violence or aggressive behaviour;
• racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia or any other form of discrimination;
• bullying, intimidation or harassment;
• the sharing of another Resident's identity, history or circumstances outside the residence;
• theft, dishonesty or manipulation;
• sexual contact between Residents on the premises.

Conflict is part of community living. When you have a problem with another Resident, speak to that person directly and calmly. Where that is not possible, or where the situation involves safety, raise it with your mentor, with a counsellor, or with the Facility Manager.

Group conflict resolution sessions may be convened where appropriate. The aim is to learn, to repair the relationship and to move forward.

Tell a staff member immediately if you, or another Resident, are unwell, injured, in pain, in psychological crisis or showing signs of relapse.

The Facility may call an ambulance, contact the emergency doctor, contact the certified homeopath or take any other reasonable action to safeguard health and safety. We will generally err on the side of caution.

Your Responsible Person will be notified as soon as reasonably possible and normally within two hours.

Your monthly fee depends on the room you are in. The current rates are:

• Single non-sharing private room with ensuite bathroom (Urban House / Reception House): R14 000 per month (one room of this type available).
• 2-sleeper sharing room with bathroom (Urban House / Reception House): R11 000 per month.
• 3-sleeper sharing room with bathroom (Urban House / Reception House): R10 000 per month.
• Dormitory room with shared bathrooms (Dormitory House): R8 000 per month.

• Fees are payable in advance. If you joined on or before the 14th of the month, the full month is payable; from the 15th onwards, a pro-rated fee applies.
• From the second month, fees must reflect in the Facility's bank account by no later than the 3rd of the month.
• A R2 000,00 emergency medical deposit is held by the Facility and refunded within 5 days of leaving, if unused.
• Non-payment may result in termination. No refund is payable for the current month if you leave early. Future months paid in advance may be refunded subject to deductions.
• If you wish to change rooms, speak to the Facility Manager. Room transfers between tiers change the fee from the first day of the next calendar month.

There is no minimum stay. You may stay for as long as you meet the conditions of residence, pay your fees, comply with the House Rules and remain committed to the programme.

We encourage you to think about your stay in phases. Settle in. Stabilise. Build routine. Strengthen recovery. Work on employment. Plan your reintegration. Discuss your plan with your mentor and counsellor.

If you choose to leave, give us seven days' written notice where possible. Talk to your mentor, your counsellor or the Facility Manager first. Leaving in a moment of frustration or craving is rarely the right decision.

On the day you leave, the Personal Property Register and the Medication Register will be reconciled with you. You will be asked to sign the handover record.

We invite you to keep in touch through aftercare and alumni contact, if you have consented to this.

Recovery does not stop the day you leave. Aftercare planning is part of the final phase of your stay. We will work with you on a personal plan: NA or HEAL meeting attendance, ongoing counselling, exercise, employment, family contact, sober living arrangements and the people who will support you.

Alumni gatherings, alumni mentorship and follow-up calls are offered to those who consent to ongoing contact.

What happens here, stays here. Do not share the identities, histories or circumstances of other Residents with anyone outside the residence. We expect the same protection of your privacy from every other Resident.

The Facility safeguards your personal information in accordance with the Communication and POPIA Consent that you have signed.

If you have a complaint, raise it with your mentor or with the Facility Manager. Complaints may be made verbally or in writing. We will listen, investigate and respond. Where you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may escalate the matter to the Director.

Recovery is hard work. It is also possible, and it changes lives. You are not alone here. Use the people around you. Use the programme. Be honest. Be patient with yourself. Show up every day.

We are glad you are here. We are with you for this stage of the journey.

RESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I, the undersigned Resident, acknowledge that:

• I have received a copy of the Resident Handbook.
• I have read the Resident Handbook in full, or have had it read and explained to me in a language I understand.
• I understand what is expected of me and what I can expect of the Facility.
• I will use this Handbook as my reference throughout my stay.