Street Support KC Volunteer Code of Conduct

Our Mission & Commitment

Street Support KC relies on volunteers to help create welcoming, respectful, and safe outreach events for our neighbors experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. By volunteering with Street Support KC, volunteers agree to represent the organization and our mission with compassion, respect, good judgment, and professionalism.

Volunteer Expectations

While volunteering with Street Support KC, volunteers are expected to:

  • Treat everyone with dignity and respect. Be respectful toward individuals receiving services, fellow volunteers, partner organizations, staff, and members of the public regardless of their circumstances or background.

  • Follow the direction of event leadership. Volunteers should follow instructions provided by Street Support KC staff, event leads, and designated Volunteer Ambassadors.

  • Maintain appropriate boundaries. Volunteers should not engage in confrontations, arguments, or physical interventions with individuals attending outreach events.

  • Prioritize safety. If you witness behavior that appears threatening, unsafe, or likely to escalate, do not attempt to personally intervene. Immediately notify the Executive Director, a Volunteer Ambassador, or another designated event lead so the situation can be assessed and addressed.

  • Communicate concerns constructively. We welcome feedback and want volunteers to help us identify opportunities to improve. Concerns should be communicated respectfully and collaboratively to Street Support KC leadership. Immediate safety concerns should be reported during the event whenever possible.

  • Protect privacy and dignity. Do not photograph, record, or publicly share identifying information about individuals receiving services without appropriate permission.

  • Represent Street Support KC appropriately. Volunteers should avoid behavior or comments that could reasonably be considered threatening, discriminatory, harassing, disruptive, or inconsistent with Street Support KC's mission.

  • Respect organizational decisions. Street Support KC leadership is responsible for decisions regarding event operations, safety procedures, partnerships, resources, and volunteer responsibilities. Volunteers are encouraged to provide feedback and suggestions while respecting final organizational decisions.

  • Do not volunteer while impaired. Volunteers may not participate while impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs, or any substance that could interfere with their ability to safely perform their responsibilities.

  • Stay within your volunteer role. Volunteers should not make commitments, speak on behalf of Street Support KC, distribute resources outside established procedures, or represent themselves as authorized decision-makers unless specifically asked to do so.

Responding to Difficult Situations

Street Support KC serves people experiencing a wide variety of circumstances, and outreach events may occasionally involve individuals experiencing distress, behavioral health challenges, intoxication, or other situations that result in unpredictable behavior.

Volunteers are not expected to act as security or personally de-escalate potentially dangerous situations.

If you feel uncomfortable or believe a situation may become unsafe:

  1. Create distance from the situation when possible.

  2. Do not argue with, physically confront, restrain, or pursue the individual.

  3. Immediately notify the Executive Director, a Volunteer Ambassador, or another designated event lead.

  4. In an emergency involving an immediate threat of serious harm, call 911.

Street Support KC leadership will determine the appropriate response based on the circumstances.

Concerns & Feedback

We want volunteers to feel comfortable raising concerns, suggesting improvements, and identifying potential problems. Disagreement is okay. We ask that those conversations remain respectful, constructive, and focused on finding solutions.

Concerns about another volunteer, an outreach participant, event operations, or organizational practices should be brought directly to Street Support KC leadership rather than addressed through confrontation or conflict with others.

Violations of the Code of Conduct

Street Support KC reserves the right to address volunteer conduct that is inconsistent with these expectations.

Depending on the circumstances, Street Support KC may provide coaching or a warning, reassign or limit a volunteer's responsibilities, ask a volunteer to leave an event, or discontinue an individual's volunteer participation.

Street Support KC reserves the right to determine whether an individual is an appropriate fit for its volunteer program and may discontinue a volunteer's participation at any time when doing so is in the best interest of the organization, its volunteers, partners, or the people we serve.

Acknowledgment

By volunteering with Street Support KC, I agree to follow this Volunteer Code of Conduct and understand that failure to follow these expectations may result in my volunteer participation being limited or discontinued.