OUR PROGRAMS
CONTACT
Jefferson Street Baptist Center
733 East Jefferson Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: 502.584.6543
Email: info@jeffersonstreet.org
Fax: 502.584.4377
MAIN OFFICE HOURS
7am - 3pm Monday - Friday
DAY SHELTER HOURS
7am - 1pm Monday - Thursday
7am - 12pm Friday - Sunday
THE COMPONENTS OF FRESH START
ABOUT FRESH START
As a ministry of the Jefferson Street Baptist Center, the Fresh Start Program exists to serve and glorify God by meeting the physical, emotional, spiritual and vocational needs of homeless and hurting men in the greater Louisville area. The six-month program provides a grace-based, disciplined and practical experience for residents in a safe, comfortable environment.
Twenty-six single rooms make up Jefferson Street Baptist Center’s Fresh Start Program. Our ambition is to provide safe, quiet and stable housing as well as assistance, when needed, to empower our Residents to achieve their goals and remain in stable housing. Residents are required to maintain compliance to JSBC expectations, with an emphasis on sobriety, medication and case management.
With brokenness being a reality in the lives of the men who enter the Fresh Start Program, our dedicated team of staff, volunteers and external organizations join together to disciple needy and homeless men in order to prepare them to be self-sufficient and productive citizens, husbands and fathers. Through education, life skills training and career development, in conjunction with emotional and physical support, Fresh Start residents are taught to accept the responsibility needed to transition from a life of homelessness to successful acclimation into society as individuals of integrity, responsibility, commitment and, most importantly, hope.
Drawing from the successful New Life Program at Denver Rescue Mission, which has served as a model for mission education programs nationwide, Jefferson Street Baptist Center’s Fresh Start Program believes in “discipling people for life” in order to break the cycles of under-education, poverty and homelessness that flow from both societal and personal evils. The Fresh Start Program contains three foundational components: Life Skills, Education and Career Development.
Beginning with a Christian foundation, Life Skills classes include, but are not limited to: addictions education, conflict resolution, relational and family dynamics, stress and anger management, health education, personal finances and spiritual development.
The Education component is self-paced and equips students with basic academic skills and computer literacy. Residents who lack a high school diploma can earn their GED. Continuing education is also encouraged for Residents who have a GED or High School Diploma.
The Career Development component is an innovative multimedia, video-based, group counseling program designed to help unemployed, underemployed and economically disadvantaged adults and youth learn how to make and carry out important personal, career and educational decisions that will dramatically affect their future.
PROGRAM PHASES:
1. Foundation Phase
A one word description of the first ninety days of The Fresh Start Program is Foundations. During this initial phase, guests are provided with the foundational key to lasting change. They are also provided essential components to facilitate life change including, a stable living environment, educational opportunities, access to health care, case management, and Christ-centered classes that present a Christian worldview and the hope found therein.
The hope that is established during this phase does not change with circumstances. The guests learn that true and lasting hope is found in the Lord Jesus Christ and that ultimate change will only come through Him. This foundational truth is an objective reality that cannot be moved by changing circumstances.
2. Formation Phase
During the Formation Phase, residents begin to put the foundational truths learned in the Foundation Phase into practice in various situations, including full or part time employment. Therefore, the Formation Phase is about beginnings. While residents have begun to experience change during the first phase, the Formation Phase removes some of the protective hedges in order to begin to acclimate residents in society as useful and productive servants. Upon Completion of the Foundations and Formations phases of the Fresh Start program, the resident will be honored in a graduation ceremony and promoted to the Freedom Phase of the Fresh Start Program at Jefferson Street Baptist Center.
3. Freedom Phase
Upon completion of the Foundations and Formations phase, the Resident will graduate to the Freedom Phase, still bound by the rules of the Fresh Start Program. Residents will also participate in their case management every week. Also, the Resident’s status will be evaluated every 3 months.
FRESH START LIFE SKILLS CLASSES
The Man Who Makes a Difference
How People Change
Crossroads - Steps Away from Addiction
The Art of Living
Fatherhood
Where to Lord?
Peacemaker Group Study
Battling Unbelief
Why We Believe the Bible
Church Matters (Elective)
Stop Dating the Church (Elective)
So Many Questions (Elective)
Simply Christianity (Elective)
Six Steps to Reading the Bible (Elective)
Six Steps to Talking About Jesus (Elective)
APPLY FOR THE FRESH START PROGRAM
Mail or fax it to the following:
Jefferson Street Baptist Center
733 East Jefferson Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Fax: 502.584.4377
HOW CAN I HELP?
Adopt A Room
You, your church or organization can “adopt a room” for $308 a month, which will allow a homeless man to transition from life on the streets into a safe, comfortable environment where they can be given the necessary tools to break the bonds of homelessness
GED Curriculum
Most of the men entering the Fresh Start Program are undereducated and many do not have a high school diploma. While they are here, we want to help them obtain a GED. During their time in Fresh Start, we will equip them with the basic academic skills and computer literacy they need to earn their GED. This requires a workbook for the student to use, which cost an average of $20.00 each. You, your church or organization can buy one, a few or a set of workbooks to help these men in their academic pursuits.
Career Development
While we can help the men make sound, vocational choices that will lead to a career, it is also important that they dress for success”. You, your church or organization can help by donating new or gently used business casual (khakis, polos, etc) and “work” wear (jeans, boots, Carharts etc)
Questions? Email us or call 502.584.6543.
