Men’s New Life Program

A unique and vital pillar of this journey is our Vocational Training, which takes place within our shelter services and the Fairhaven Thrift Store. Unlike a standard job that focuses strictly on productivity, our training is intentionally therapeutic. It functions as a “laboratory for character,” offering residents a real-world environment to refine underdeveloped skills, practice conflict resolution, and safely address root behavioral issues as they surface under pressure. Our ultimate goal is that every graduate leaves our doors fully equipped with a plan for sustainable income, permanent housing, personal health and healthy community. These outcomes produce self-sufficient people who are ready to step into a healthy, independent life.  

The program is entirely free to those who are enrolled.

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Contact program manager Bryon Harvey for details: 859-491-1027

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The New Life Program (NLP) at Fairhaven is more than a short-term fix; it is a 10-month, Jesus-centered residential journey designed to rebuild a man’s life from the foundation up.

We believe that lasting change requires a season of “tearing down” unhealthy habits to make room for a new identity. To achieve this, we ask our residents to temporarily set aside outside employment and external distractions during their first six months, allowing them to focus entirely on their restoration.

During this intensive first 6 months, residents immerse themselves in a curriculum of growth. Their days are structured with Biblical studies and essential life-skills classes, including anger management, financial wellness, and conflict resolution.

This classroom learning is paired with weekly intensive individual and group counseling to address the deep-rooted issues behind addiction and homelessness.

Growth also happens through hands-on service. Residents receive vocational training at our thrift store, where they practice time management and learn to receive constructive feedback in a healthy work environment. This allows us to identify and correct past workplace habits – such as difficulty with authority or inconsistent attendance—before they return to the workforce.

Furthermore, by serving in our community kitchen and men’s shelter, residents gain a “mirror” of their past lives, helping them transition from a “survival mode” mindset to a life of selfless service.

We believe in the power of community, which is why we partner with local experts like the Life Learning Center and various health clinics. These partnerships ensure our residents have access to everything from physical and mental healthcare to obtaining proper identification and advanced job-readiness skills.

The final four months of the program focus on sustainability. As residents find employment, they remain in our supportive environment and save at least 60% of their income to prepare for independent living. This is the “testing” phase; as the stresses of the world return and things begin to “wobble,” our counselors are there to provide real-time corrections and build the resident’s confidence.

By the time a resident graduates, he has done more than just complete a program or find a job. He has built a sustainable foundation consisting of stable housing, a healthy church community, and a personalized plan for lifelong recovery. He steps back into the world not as a person defined by his past, but as a restored man fully equipped to lead a life of purpose, dignity, and lasting stability.