Contacts are characters who now share a bond with you. Each one either owes the character a favor or has some reason to bear a grudge. A hostile contact works against the character, placing obstacles but stopping short of committing a crime or a violent act. Friendly contacts will render aid to the character, but not at the risk of their lives.
Once a contact has helped you, it can't help you again until it owes you another favor, either through role-playing or the Carouse activity, although the contact remains friendly towards you after it helps you. You can have a maximum number of contacts equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1).