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Hacks for Waiting Room or Lounge Management

Waiting areas are often the first part of a service space that people experience, so setting a calm, welcoming tone matters. A few simple practices—like clear signage, consistent expectations, and light refreshments—can help reduce tension and support a respectful environment. The tips below offer practical ways to create waiting spaces that feel safe, inclusive, and grounded in harm reduction values.

  • Post signage clearly and in multiple languages.
  • Enforce rules consistently.
  • Have your community help self-police.
  • If possible, offer light refreshments like coffee and nutritional snacks.
  • Don’t forget that independent non-profits can sign up to buy food at the local food pantry for pennies on the dollar for distribution.
  • Assume positive intent and treat people like they want to do the right thing—it may not be true, but it is always disarming.
  • Watch for agitated behaviors such as arguments, mumbling, pacing, or any sudden change in demeanor.

Featured Hacks

These featured hacks highlight creative, practical solutions from harm reduction leaders on the ground. From DIY tools to clever workarounds, each one reflects the ingenuity, care, and real-world experience that keeps this movement alive. 

Community member agreements are shared agreements regarding behavior expected of everyone who participates in a harm reduction site or service. The primary rule all harm reduction leaders talked about was the need to treat everyone with respect.
The concept of “consent culture” emerged from the sex positive movement of the 1980s and 90s. It was a response to the concept of “rape culture”, a term that had been coined to describe the experience that many people—especially women, queer and trans people—have of sexual violence and harassment.