CA HOUSE
Multifaith Living Community
RESIDENT GUIDEBOOK
Academic Year 2025-2026
Welcome
This Guidebook is an important source of information for Multifaith Living Community residents and CA House community members. It describes and explains CA House resident policies and regulations. Please refer to your lease agreement for further details.
I. CA HOUSE HISTORY, MISSION, AND PROGRAMS
History
The Cal Aggie Christian Association was organized in the 1930s as a college student group of the Davis Community Church, which Davis Congregationalists, Methodists, and Presbyterians united to form in 1869. In the early 1950s, the property at 433 Russell Boulevard was purchased for the campus ministry and it became known as CA House. CA House continues to be supported by the Davis Community Church and the Davis United Methodist Church, and a wide variety of community donors of all faiths and backgrounds.
Mission
As a progressive campus ministry, CA House embraces and serves students of all faiths and strives to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding. CA House offers a caring, inclusive community where all students can engage in open discussion and exploration of questions of faith, vocation, personal identity, and growth. Guided by our core values – Community, Faith, Social Justice, and Sustainability – we actively seek opportunities to promote peace, justice, and the well-being of all people.
Programs
Some CA House programs include:
Multifaith Living Community: CA House offers a residential Multifaith Living Community. Students commit to live respectfully, and strive to live by the Resident Agreement, which describes the foundational values of the community: faith, community, social justice, and sustainable living. This program gives students the opportunity to grow spiritually, live with other students in a caring community, and to improve the world through service.
Open Table: Wednesday Night Multifaith Dinner and Program: Every Wednesday at 7 pm
during the academic year, a free, vegetarian (kosher, halal, and gluten-free friendly) multifaith
community meal is prepared by MLC residents in the Main House to build community through
eating together. Each house makes the meal at least 4 times during the academic year.
Co-ConSPIRITors: In this fraught season in which Christian nationalism is ascendant, we stand in opposition to it because we take Jesus seriously. We invite you to participate in a small group that explores how we can create a world of true kinship, in which everyone has what they need, and we live in friendship with all created beings on this planet. You do not have to identify as a Christian to attend. We will focus on our stories and on our questions, learning from one another and from Jesus and his friends from many different religious and wisdom traditions. Our group meets weekly on Monday nights for dinner, spirited conversations, and spiritual practices. Please join us and bring your friends!
Ingredients for Program Meals: Staff will shop for your ingredients for Open Table and Co-ConSPIRITors. Please send a DETAILED list of ingredients to Jocelynn (jocelynn@cahouse.org) by 8:30 am on the Monday morning before you are scheduled to cook, and the groceries will be in the Main House Kitchen ready for you! Detailed lists mean: 8 oz bag shredded sharp cheddar cheese, or 3 loose carrots (as opposed to listing “cheese” or “carrots”).
DO NOT use food from the Nourish Pantry for any programming snacks or meals. The Program Pantry (in hallway between the kitchen and bathroom) contains food for program use. Please check the Program Pantry before submitting your shopping list to avoid unnecessary purchases.
Quarterly Retreats: Our students get away on weekend-long or day-trip retreats that include service, fellowship, and spiritual exploration. Attendance retreats are highly encouraged as they provide the foundation for our intentional living community and are a lot of fun!
Service and Justice Projects: We support other opportunities for students to serve and do justice work both in and outside of Davis. CA House staff and students will work together to offer regular service opportunities. Student-initiated ideas and projects are always welcome.
Nourish Food Pantry: Nourish at CA House is a radical food pantry designed to address food insecurity among university students in the Davis community by providing access to fresh, nutritious, and well-balanced groceries. The Pantry is located in the Main House Annex – accessible through the back patio door. Access to the pantry is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As the pantry is restocked weekly, we ask that students take what they need for up to a week to ensure there is enough for the other students that use the pantry. Do not share the door code to the Pantry with anyone. If a student needs access to the Pantry, please connect the person with Kelen.
Ecumenical Connections: We provide students with connections, support, and scholarships to participate in many types of engaging ecumenical events. Students interested in ecumenical connection opportunities should speak with Elizabeth.
Interfaith Connections: Throughout the year, we offer many opportunities to get engaged in the Greater Davis community through partnerships with the Interfaith Campus Council, Celebration of Abraham, Davis Interfaith Alliance (DIA), Yolo Interfaith Alliance for Climate Justice, Sacramento Interfaith Council and other area faith and justice communities.
II. CA HOUSE BOARD, CLERGY, STAFF AND THEIR ROLES
CA House Board of Directors
CA House is governed by a Board of Directors, composed of students and non-student affiliates. If residents have ideas or concerns that are beyond the responsibilities of the Community Coordinator, Interfaith Campus Minister, or Executive Director, they are invited to share them with the Chair of the Board of Directors. The Community Coordinator can provide contact information for the Chairperson.
CA House Clergy, Staff, and Student Leaders
The Rev. Dr. Jocelynn Hughes (she/her) is the CA House Executive Director. The ED is responsible for the financial and administrative aspects, including supervising the professional staff of CA House and the MLC. She focuses on fundraising, grant writing, budgets, facilities, and making sure that everything is running smoothly. She works closely with the Board of Directors and their committees, as well as local churches and the supporting denominations for financial support of CA House.
Rev. Elizabeth Rand (she/her) is the CA House Interfaith Campus Minister. The Interfaith Campus Minister has responsibility for Co-ConSPIRITors, Open Table, retreat planning, as well as programs, spiritual care, and interfacing with campus institutions, other campus ministries, and collaborative community partners like the University Religious Council and Interfaith Campus Council. The ICM’s responsibilities also include overseeing all programming and spiritual care for residents of the MLC and non-resident participants who access CA House programs and offerings.
Kelen Quach (she/her) is the Community Coordinator. The Community Coordinator has primary responsibility for supporting the various ministries, the Nourish Food Pantry, managing the property, communicating with residents of the Multifaith Living Community, and overseeing all social media. She advertises, coordinates lease signing, and conducts move-in and out procedures. She works closely with the ED on leasing, and with the ICM on MLC programming.
Chris Hendrix-Chupa (he/him) is the CA House Maintenance Coordinator. His responsibilities include maintaining all of the buildings on the CA House property and responding to student repair requests. Chris is usually available certain nights and weekends only.
Devika Nair (she/her) is the Bookkeeper. She is responsible for invoices for rent and retreats, for tracking finances and issuing checks for reimbursements.
The CA House Student Staff consists of two positions: the Multifaith Living Community Assistant, and the Nourish Pantry Coordinator. The MLC Assistant assists residents and staff of CA House by maintaining status as a UC Davis RSO, assisting with program set-up and clean-up and helping foster a caring community environment for MLC residents and non-resident participants. This year, the MLC assistant is Connor Mitchell (he/him).
Community Advisors are selected by each house to serve as a liaison between your house and the staff. CA’s will meet monthly with staff (lunch is provided!) to discuss joys and challenges residents are experiencing, and help staff plan programs and events like retreats.
The ministry and staff of CA House are supported by the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church.
III. RESIDENT UTILITIES AND SERVICES
Bus Services
The student-operated UNITRANS bus system services Davis and is free to all UCD undergraduate students. Yolobus services Woodland and Sacramento, including the Sacramento International Airport, and has a stop right in front of CA House. Bus schedules may be obtained at the UCD Memorial Union Information Desk. For additional information, contact UCD Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) at (530) 752-8277 or www.taps.ucdavis.edu.
Electricity, Gas, and Water
CA House pays for resident water and gas costs, and electricity. As sustainability is a core value, we expect all residents to be energy conscious at all times, and to conserve water use.
Your house thermostats have been programmed for maximal energy efficiency. This means: 78 in the summer, and 68 in the winter. Please do not change these settings. We encourage all residents to control the temperature in your own rooms by using a fan for additional cooling, and a space heater for additional heat. Also, if your HVAC system is running DO NOT OPEN WINDOWS. If your house prefers to open windows for temperature modulation, then turn your HVAC system off. It is a complete waste of energy – and risks breaking your HVAC unit – to have it running when a window is open.
Some houses have ‘smart’ thermostats. These are programmed to adjust depending on if whether people are home, and for energy efficiency. Please do not manually change the temperature on your smart thermostat. If you have questions about these, please speak with a staff member.
Garden Boxes
There are garden boxes available to plant fruits, vegetables, herbs – anything you wish to grow. Tools are available for tending the garden. If you have a green thumb and would like to help with our CA House garden, please speak with Elizabeth.
Insurance
Internet
High speed wifi is provided to each house. The router name and password is given to each resident upon move in and can be changed if necessary. Additionally, residents have free access to wireless internet service while on the Main House deck and within the Main House. While you may find an ethernet port in your room, they are not active, as the router is now solely wifi.
Main House Access
The Main House is open to students with 24-hour access. To visit the CA House Offices (upstairs), Great Hall, Resident Mailboxes or Living Room, please use your code at the front door. On Wednesday evenings, we will unlock the back door so you may access the Great Hall for Open Table from the Pantry.
Main House Kitchen and Community Food
Students are welcome and encouraged (really!) to use the Main House kitchen and its kitchen appliances and tools along with spices and other food preparation items in the main house. Items available for community use, either for Open Table related food-prep or personal food-prep are usually labeled with an “OK to EAT” label. If in doubt, you can always ask staff or Connor. The MLC Assistant/Main House resident reserves the right to close the kitchen for their personal needs as the Main House Kitchen is their living space. The Main House kitchen is also primarily used for meal prep for Open Table community dinners. Leftover food that anyone may eat will be labeled and placed available in the Community Fridge, located in the Nourish Food Pantry.
Laundry
Each townhouse is equipped with a washer and dryer.
The following courtesies are strongly encouraged:
- Refrain from small loads if at all possible to save energy and costs
- Line dry items when possible to save energy
- Remember to empty lint catch in dryer after each load
- Leave the washer door open after use to prevent mold growth
Mail Service and Packages
One mailbox per house is provided for resident use and located in the Main House by the first floor bathroom. Resident mail will be placed in these boxes. Incoming packages are placed on the shelves underneath mailboxes.
Small pieces of outgoing mail with postage affixed can be put in the “outgoing mail” box outside the front door of the Main House. Residents are individually responsible for mailing any outgoing packages through outside carriers. CA House is not responsible for any missing or stolen packages.
Office Phone/How to Reach Staff
The Office phone number (530-753-2000) can be used to call and leave voice mails for Kelen, Elizabeth, Chris, and Jocelynn 24/7. Calls may not be answered or returned outside of business hours. You can also use this number to text these staff members. Please know that all staff members can see all the texts, and as with calls and voice mails, texts may not be answered outside of normal business hours. If you experience an emergency and need to reach staff outside of normal business hours, please use the texting option and a staff member will respond.
Parking and Bicycles
As a condition of the lease, residents owning vehicles must pay an additional cost per month of $40 for onsite parking. Parking spaces are offered on a first come, first served basis. CA House parking permits must be displayed on your windshield at all times. Residents shall not give permission to any other person to park in their assigned parking spot. Short-term visitor parking is allowed in any of the “visitor” spaces in the front of the Main House property. If you are expecting a visitor to stay for longer than 24 hours, you must obtain prior written consent from the Community Coordinator for them to park on the property. If staff is hosting a meeting or event that requires visitor spaces, we reserve the right to request them to be kept open for this purpose.
Bicycle parking is available behind the Main House. Bikes may not be parked or locked along the accessibility ramps or stairs in front of the house. Abandoned bicycles are annually removed from the premises at the beginning of each lease year. There will be advance warning of when this will take place. It is requested that every resident wishing to park their bicycle on the property, obtain a City of Davis Bike Permit to be registered in the CA House database. Those bicycles not registered will be temporarily tagged with a ribbon. All unclaimed, tagged bikes will be permanently removed after 7 days.
Trash, Recycling, and Compost
Residents are expected to limit their trash and to recycle and compost. Please empty any personal trash into the large rectangular bin in the trash enclosure. Trash enclosures can be accessed with the trash barn code. All trash must be placed in the bin, and the lids must be able to close. Do not leave your garbage or recycling on the ground! It will not be picked up by the driver and will attract roaches!
Paper and plastic/glass/metal recycling containers are also located in the trash barn. Recycle as much as possible to reduce our carbon footprint. Break down (meaning: flatten) all boxes prior to stacking them in the designated cardboard recycling spot in the garbage barn.
Compost bins are also available for garden/yard waste and food scraps. Please use them to help reduce our carbon footprint!
Abandoning furniture, electronics, appliances, or other large items in or next to the trash enclosure is prohibited and will result in a hefty fine. If you have special items that are in need of disposal and don’t know how to proceed, please contact a CA House staff member for help.
IV. BASIC INFORMATION, POLICIES, AND REGULATIONS
Alterations and Decorations
As stated in Section 15 of the Lease Agreement, “RESIDENT shall not make, or cause to be made, any alterations of the said premises or their contents without first obtaining the written consent of OWNER.” Alterations include: painting, large holes in walls, wall or floor decals, or other changes that could be considered a room damage or permanent.
Antennas and Satellite Dishes
Antennas may not be placed outside bedrooms and satellite dishes are not allowed.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are a very serious issue, and CA House must take immediate action if there is any suspicion of bed bug activity. If you believe that there may be bed bugs in your living space, you are required to notify CA House staff within 24 hours.
As required by California Housing Law, any residents who come forward with suspicion of bed bugs will not face any security deposit deductions if live activity is detected. However, prior knowledge and subsequent failure to report bed bug activity could result in security deposit deductions.
Practical steps can be taken to avoid bringing bed bugs into your home. When traveling, check the corners of mattresses and fitted sheets for live bed bugs if you have any suspicion of their presence. Bed bugs can travel with you on your clothes, so if you think you have been exposed to them, immediately wash all exposed clothing in a high heat wash and high heat dry. Additionally, you should never take unclaimed furniture that has been kept outside! Student housing areas are especially susceptible to bed bugs for this reason. A free couch from the street is not worth the hassle of a bed bug infestation!
Please reference the Bed Bug Disclosure sheet located in your Resident Welcome Packet and in your lease for more information about bed bug detection and treatment.
Bidets
You may choose to purchase and install a bidet on your toilet, with the consent of your housemate with whom you share a bathroom. If you would like to do this, you should request a ‘Bidet Addendum’ for your lease from the Community Coordinator. This outlines that you will purchase and install the bidet at your own expense, and hire a plumber if necessary. And, upon move-out, you will remove the bidet. You are responsible for any damage to the toilet due to the installation, use, or removal of the bidet.
Breach of Lease
Any of the following are considered breaches of the lease: 1) failing to maintain eligibility; 2) failing to pay rent promptly; 3) unreasonably damaging or endangering CA House property or disturbing the other residents or their property; 4) violating other provisions of the Lease Agreement, including the rules and regulations outlined in your Lease Agreement; and 5) subletting or assigning room rights without permission from the CA House staff. There may be other actions that would constitute breach of lease not mentioned here.
Business, Operation of
No business is permitted to be established at CA House.
Car Washing, Repairs, and Recreational Vehicles
No oil changes or major car repairs are permitted on CA House property. Car washing is not allowed.
Recreational Vehicles/Boats/Trailers/Jet Skis are not permitted on CA House property at any time.
Exterior Electricity
Residents may not extend electrical power outside of their rooms by extension cords or any other means. Personal decorative lights may be installed only indoors.
Grill Use/Reservations
There is a gas grill on the patio that residents are welcome to use. You must reserve it in advance using the ‘Grill Reservation’ form. Once approved, you will receive the gas tank and grilling utensils (and instructions) from a staff member or the MLC Assistant. You may grill meat, but not pork or shellfish (i.e. shrimp) so that the grill can be used by all residents. The grill must be thoroughly cleaned and the utensils and gas tank returned after use. If the grill is left messy or those items aren’t returned, a fee will be assessed.
Guests & Subleasing
CA House Residents are welcome to invite guests to stay with them:
- For up to 3 consecutive days within a 15-day period.
- All guests must receive approval from all Housemates prior to arrival.
- There may be no more than 3 overnight guests in a single townhome.
- Any guests wishing to stay longer than 3 consecutive days must have prior written consent from the Community Coordinator. You are responsible for your guests; therefore, you must be present with them for the duration of their stay. Any individuals staying in your room in your absence do not qualify as guests, but are considered unverified subtenants.
All residents wishing to sublet their room are responsible for finding a subtenant and asking them to fill out a “Subtenant Application.” Once the subtenant is approved, the resident and tenant must fill out a sublease form in the presence of the Community Coordinator or another staff member. There is a $50 administrative fee charged to all residents subleasing their rooms. Subletting without prior notice to or the permission of the Community Coordinator is a breach of lease. Under no circumstances should you list your room on Airbnb or Couchsurfer. Doing so is a breach of lease and will lead to immediate eviction. For more information, please see conditions in your lease agreement.
Residents are encouraged to report excessive overnight guests or unverified subtenants in their house to the Community Coordinator.
Housing Agreement
During Orientation, each house will collaborate on a Housing Agreement. This is the central piece of living in intentional community, as it outlines the hopes, needs, and expectations of each individual on how their community will live together day to day. Through this process, the housemates will determine things such as quiet hours, chore schedules, communication processes, and how they intend to build community together this year. The Housing Agreement is a living document which should be referred to and updated regularly throughout the year. While the Housing Agreement is meant to facilitate your life together, it is only a piece of paper unless everyone enacts the things you have agreed to do. Reach out to the Community Coordinator for help with your Housing Agreement.
Locks and Door Codes
CA House staff will change the front door code the Main House and Trash Enclosure as needed to protect the security of CA House. The new codes will be communicated to residents by email after the change.
All MLC Houses have a unique front door code. These automatically lock after each entry for your added safety. Whenever someone moves out of your house, you will receive a new door code via email.
Rules for door codes:
- Do not share your front door code with anyone
- Avoid writing your code down or sharing it electronically
- Please notify us immediately if someone outside of our community gets ahold of your door code, so we can change the door code immediately to ensure your safety.
Repair Requests
To make a repair request, please visit www.cahouse.org/repair/.
When a resident makes a repair request, it is understood as granting staff permission to enter their house or room to make repairs. A resident who has made a repair request is responsible for informing their housemates that a repair request has been initiated. For minor after-hours emergencies, text the office phone at 530-753-2000 for assistance. There is no charge to residents for routine maintenance, but repairs as a result of intentional or careless damage or negligence will be billed to the person responsible. Please contact the Maintenance Coordinator immediately if any pest control is needed.
Residents should take care of the following minor repairs themselves: changing smoke alarm batteries, and replacing burnt-out light bulbs. You can find spare batteries and lightbulbs in the Nourish Food Pantry located in the Main House Annex.
Moving In
When residents move in, the Community Coordinator will provide the code to the front and back doors of the Main House and the door code for the front door of their townhouse. Upon arrival, any remaining security deposit balance, and the first month’s rent must be paid.
A CA House staff member will join the resident to perform a walk-through/room inspection to record any damages to, or repairs needed in, the room before move in so that the resident will not be held responsible for them upon move out. Any existing damage must be reported within 7 days of move in or the resident will be held accountable. Waterbeds are not permitted.
Moving Out
Most leases end August 31, which means that all resident belongings must be moved out, and resident rooms and all common areas of the house must be cleaned by August 31 at 9 am. All residents are required to perform a walkthrough with a CA House staff member. Failure to arrange a move-out walk through during normal business hours with a staff member relieves staff of any obligation to conduct the move out in your presence. You can expect to receive more information regarding move-out procedures and expectations in August.
Pets
Pets are not permitted under any circumstances, including any guest’s pet(s). The sole exceptions to this are service animals and Therapy Animals or ESA Animals with prior proper documentation from a medical provider and the written consent of CA House staff. Owners are solely responsible for the care and safety of their service animal/ESA. Any residents with concerns about the presence of a pet in their home are encouraged to bring it to the attention of the Community Coordinator.
Rent Payments
Each month, you will receive an invoice for your monthly rent and parking fees (if applicable). Your invoice will include an “online payment fee” which is due if you pay through the invoice. If you choose to pay with a check or through Zelle, you can subtract the online payment fee from the total.
Due Date: Rent payments are due the first day of the month, and are late after the 5th.
Payment Instructions:
- check OR money order payable to “CA House” or “Cal Aggie Christian Association.”
- Residents may send checks by mail directly to CA House (433 Russell Blvd, Davis, CA 95616), placed in the wall slot in the office, or drop payment into the “Incoming Mail” slot located outside the Main House front door.
- Zelle – search for our email: cahouse@cahouse.org (no fees, immediate deposit).
Cash rent payments are not permitted. Cash can be safely converted to money order at convenience stores. If you have questions on this process, please reach out to the Community Coordinator.
You can also use automatic bill pay through your bank. It is quite easy and only the following information is required:
Payee: Cal Aggie Christian Association
Address: 433 Russell Boulevard, Davis, CA 95616
Amount: (the amount you’re paying us)
Memo: [Your Name]
After scheduling a payment date, your bank will then simply pay us directly by US mail.
At this time, CA House is unable to accommodate peer-to-peer payment platforms such as Venmo, Apple Pay, etc. If you wish to pay with a credit card, please contact the Bookkeeper for instructions. A 4% service fee is added to credit card payments.
Rates: Rates are stipulated in the Multifaith Living Community Application. The MLC offers both market rate and affordable rents. Applicants must state at the time of application that they are applying for affordable rates, and must show income or financial aid verification.
Late Rent: If rent is not received by the 5th day of the month, it is considered delinquent and a $40 late fee is imposed.
Right of Entry
The CA House Board or its agents may enter a unit as allowed by law for the following reasons: in case of an emergency; to make repairs, alterations, or improvements; to supply necessary or agreed upon services; to exhibit the room to prospective or actual workers and tenants; if a tenant has appeared to have abandoned or surrendered the room; pursuant to court order; or with the tenant’s consent. 24-hour advance notice will be given except in cases of emergency, abandonment/surrender, court order, or if the tenant has given consent.
Room Transfers
Room transfers may be granted at the discretion of the Community Coordinator.
Waste Disposal
Residents may be held responsible for costs associated with clearing out drain pipes that have become blocked due to improper disposal of waste. To avoid these situations, please do not pour any oil, fat, or grease into the sink drains. Please collect cooled oil, fat, and grease in glass or metal containers with lids. Once full, these containers can be put in the regular trash. In the Main House, food traps are in all sinks and must be used when doing dishes and emptied immediately following clean-up. Additionally, all residents are required to acquire and use a hair trap in all showers. If a hair trap is absent upon move-in, please contact CA House staff to receive one free of charge.
Window Coverings/Blinds
Window coverings/blinds are provided in the rooms. The window coverings/blinds are expected to be maintained by the resident. Failure to do so will result in damage charges billed to the resident. If residents wish to install curtains, please avoid causing potential damage to the wall and use non-invasive curtain rods, such as tension rods.
V. STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR
These policies are designed to clearly set forth the expectations for MLC residents.
Living in a community is not always easy, since people come from different perspectives and may have different expectations for how to live. Because MLC residents live in close proximity, have different ways of life, and are juggling the pressures of academic, work, and personal lives, occasionally conflicts can arise. These policies are intended to provide all residents with standards by which all can live, learn, and grow peacefully together. CA House is committed to the ideal that the Multifaith Living Community should complement and foster all residents’ academic, personal, and spiritual development.
Residents are expected to abide by all CA House policies and regulations and the terms of their lease. Residents must maintain a high standard of responsibility. Residents who display inappropriate behavior towards themselves or others, exhibit an inability to live in community, or endanger themselves or others in any manner, are subject to action that may result in relocation or eviction. Also, please remember that everything that is illegal off-campus is illegal at CA House. CA House property does not insulate anyone from accountability for their actions.
Alcohol and Illegal Drugs
Residents and visitors must abide by all Federal and State Laws and CA House policies and regulations concerning alcohol possession, use, and distribution. No alcohol is permitted in front of the house, in the courtyard or in the parking lots. Bulk quantities of alcoholic beverages (e.g., numerous cans, kegs, etc.) and the delivery of alcohol by outside vendors are prohibited. All students should adhere to the federal law regarding drinking age. The illegal possession, use, distribution, or manufacture of other drugs is prohibited as defined by law on CA House property. Problem behavior while under the influence of alcohol or any other substance will not be excused or tolerated.
Chores
Each house is encouraged to come up with a regular system for the sharing of household chores. Various cleaning supplies will be made available in the Nourish Food Pantry to assist you in these tasks.
Damage and Theft
Residents and their guests will be held liable for any damage or theft of CA House property in the townhouses or common areas of CA House. Bills for the cost of repairs will be charged to the individual(s) responsible. Residents are responsible for maintaining the interior and exterior of their rooms in a clean and safe condition. Residents will be held accountable for any room damage beyond normal wear. The CA House Board is not liable for any loss of or damage to a resident’s personal property. Rooms are subject to inspection upon 24-hour advance notice by CA House staff. We request that residents keep their rooms clean and tidy while they are being shown to prospective residents.
Extended Leaves
Residents should notify the Community Coordinator if planning an extended leave from CA House (more than two weeks).
Firearms and Weapons
Weapons of any kind are prohibited at CA House, including but not limited to firearms, BB guns, air rifles, switchblades, swords, brass knuckles, and nunchucks. Residents with religious or other special reasons for having a weapon must discuss this with the Community Coordinator and receive permission to keep it at CA House.
Fireworks
It is unsafe and illegal to possess, store, or use any personal fireworks on CA House property or in Yolo County.
Noises and Disturbances
Noise is any sound that is disturbing to another person. Noise levels should be kept to a minimum. If a conflict about noise occurs, residents should take the initial responsibility to try to resolve it among themselves. By communicating with others in a calm manner, listening to each other, and being specific as possible about the nature and times of the problem noise, things can usually be resolved amicably. However, if this approach is unsuccessful, residents may discuss a noise problem with the Community Coordinator.
Any resident may request that any other resident cease any activity that is interfering with his/her ability to study, rest, or quietly enjoy the community. Music, televisions, video games, or conversations that can be heard in other rooms are considered too loud. However, please remember that rooms are not soundproof and that residents must be tolerant of basic “living noise.”
Parties and Events
As a community, we encourage residents to plan events and gatherings outside of official CA House programming. However, no unruly or alcohol-focused events or activities are permitted on CA House property.
Personal Care
Each resident is responsible for their own self-care, which is defined as appropriate personal hygiene and management of medical illnesses and disability-related personal needs. In some extreme cases, residents may be asked to sign a “Holistic Health Covenant” as a condition of their lease. Residents are encouraged to report any concerns about the mental or physical health of fellow community members to the Campus Minister or Community Coordinator.
Physical/Verbal Abuse/Harassment
Harassment or abuse, physical or verbal, of any person will not be tolerated. This includes threats, physical fighting, domestic violence, sexual abuse, racist/ethnic/sexist/homophobic harassment, malicious pranks, and abusive name-calling.
This also includes abuse/harassment that is communicated through email, social media, regular mail, telephone, etc. Residents are encouraged to report hate and/or harassment to CA House through the confidential reporting system at www.cahouse.org/report or report it to a staff member directly. Filing a report will initiate an investigative process led by the Executive Director or a member of the Board of Directors.
After investigation, if the offense is determined such that mediation would be helpful, staff can provide conflict resolution at your request. Please reach out to the Interfaith Campus Minister, Executive Director, or Community Coordinator. Residents and their guests are expected to resolve all conflicts in a responsible, constructive manner. If at any point you feel that you are endangered, please contact 911 immediately and notify a CA House staff member.
Quiet/Courtesy Hours
CA House seeks to live in harmony with neighbors on all sides of our property, keeping noise at a minimum overnight.
The following are quiet hours: Sunday to Thursday 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Friday and Saturday 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Smoking
CA House is a non-smoking property and smoking is not permitted within any of the houses. CA House prohibits smoking within 25 feet of any building, as required by law. Smoking is permitted in outside designated areas. If residents or their guests smoke, they are responsible for disposing of any related litter in the trash can outside. Smoking includes but is not limited to cigarettes, vaping, hookah, marijuana, or illegal substances. Violation of the smoking policy is a breach of lease and repeat violators may be subject to room damage fees or possible eviction.
VI. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND INFORMATION
Security
While CA House, its neighborhood, and the City of Davis are relatively safe, they are not immune to the realities of the world. Residents and their guests are responsible for the security and safety of their own persons and property. Residents will need to take precautions to secure personal property, such as locking townhouse doors, marking possessions, locking cars, and locking and registering bikes. Residents must also consider their personal security and avoid vulnerable situations. Residents should keep the Community Coordinator informed if they plan to leave CA House for more than two weeks. Report any suspicious activity and never leave outside doors unlocked, open, or ajar. Make sure that the outside lights are turned on between dusk and dawn.
VII. CONCLUSION
Dear Residents,
We are so happy you are here and we look forward to having a wonderful year together. The CA House Board and Staff hope that our residents will truly become a community—a group of people caring for one another and creating a strong residential life that allows everyone to live out their full potential. The policies in this Guidebook are meant to be supported in promoting a healthy community and in living out a vision that CA House holds for all communities. We hope that you will feel comfortable being in communication with us about whatever will help to make this shared vision of community become a reality. We honor and value each resident, and we appreciate each person in the CA House community.
Grace and peace,
The CA House Staff