Within the first week of arrival, parents and their assigned caseworker develop a housing plan identifying objectives and determine goals for their stay at Raphael House. Throughout their stay, families are expected to follow house guidelines, designed to help them achieve success:

• No use of drugs or alcohol
• No violence (physical or verbal) or threat of violence
• Complete assigned house chores
• Keep rooms clean and safe
• Attend and participate in family activities -- house meetings, budget meetings, and meetings with case managers and children's program staff
• Observe curfew
• Maintain responsibility for the supervision and care of their children
• Comply fully with income reporting and savings requirements (80% of income to savings)
• Enroll children in school or daycare and establish an after-school plan
• Complete education orientation and schedule times for mandatory classes in child development, housing search, job club, budgeting, and consumer credit
• Treat all residents, staff and volunteers with courtesy and respect

In addition, residents receive referrals to a wide range of job training programs as well as social service agencies throughout the Bay Area.

Raphael House acts as the point of entry for programs and services that continue after their stay, providing ongoing support even after families have a home of their own. As a result, children and parents continue to connect with oa long term healthy community years after their stay at Raphael House.