- 1958 Church St, West Palm Beach, FL 33409
- info@fernhouse.org
- (561) 471-0430
Fern House, Inc. (Est. 1983) Is a 501(c)(3) not for profit residential recovery program. We serve more than 260 indigent men annually with recovery based solution for substance use disorder. Our residents are referred to us from a variety of organizations such as the 15th Judicial Circuit, The Florida Department of Corrections, local churches & synagogs, and concerned citizens hoping we can help their loved ones. About 1/3 of our residents walk in off the streets asking for a solution to help them change their lives.
Our program offers a structured, disciplined environment designed to help men rebuild their lives with purpose and accountability. From the very first day, residents are expected to live within that structure—participating fully in the program and community life. Within two weeks of admission, each resident is required to obtain gainful employment and contribute $280 per week toward the cost of their stay. This contribution covers housing, three daily meals, all utilities, and participation in a comprehensive recovery program that, with commitment and effort, sets them on the path to lasting sobriety.
We’re proud to say that we believe our program is the toughest in Palm Beach County to complete. It’s not tough to keep people from bettering themselves; it’s tough because life after recovery can be even tougher. Our job is to prepare each man for that day so when he leaves here, he has the best chance to succeed in an ever-changing world and to do so sober.
The 2025 Fern House Brunch Sponsored by the Palm Beach Yacht Club will be Saturday.
Many would say early recovery is hard. We like to think of early recovery as different. It requires different actions, different choices, and different people in our lives. The real challenge in recovery is being able to go outside of your comfort zone to incorporate those new actions, choices, and people into our daily routine.
Whatever your normal routine, go ahead and leave that at home. Our daily schedule may seem like too much, it might even seem hard. Life is hard and we want to prepare our residents to stand on their own two feet in all aspects of life. Because of that, the first two weeks can be a culture shock. Once you learn the new routine; recovery is a much easier life than addiction, that we can promise you.
Each resident must be interviewed before being accepted into Fern House. We’ll talk about your background and current situation and discuss your goals for sobriety.
Each resident must express a sincere desire to get and stay sober. The staff must feel certain that the resident will benefit from a stay at Fern House.
Every resident must be committed to following all Fern House rules, regulations, and policies.
Fern House has zero-tolerance for the use of alcohol and drugs. This policy includes narcotic or non-narcotic prescription drugs that are considered mind-altering or mood-altering. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in your immediate termination from the program.
There are hundreds of alcohol/drug treatment centers and halfway houses in Palm Beach County. But there’s only one Fern House.
Since 1982, the Fern House has been an open door and an open heart for men trying to break free from the grip of alcoholism and drug addiction.
The Fern House program helps them achieve sustained sobriety so they can return to society as productive, responsible citizens.
How is the Fern House different? Why has it survived and thrived for so many years while other facilities come and go like dust in the wind? There are many reasons, one being their executive director – Charles “Chuck” Cordle.
Fern House is based on the simple but powerful principles of fellowship and mutual help. Working together, we teach men to function without alcohol or drugs, take responsibility for everything they do, and transform their shattered lives into lives of dignity and purpose. That’s what we provide in practical terms. But what we offer our clients is actually something more powerful and more profound. At Fern House, addicts and alcoholics find hope. This is something that many of them haven’t felt for a long time. We watch them take that hope and use it to build a whole new life.
Meetings are a big part of every resident’s stay at Fern House. There are several reasons why they’re mandatory.
1958 Church St
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Fern House is a 501(c)(3) registered charity based in West Palm Beach, Florida. We house 56 residents at full capacity.
Fern House accepts no federal, state or local funding. All of our operations and expenses are paid by the residents, who pay their own rent and other expenses. We do not fundraise operating costs. All fundraising goes towards capital projects and future expansion.
Taxpayers, Not Tax Burdens. Fern House accepts no government taxpayer funds, we have a formula that allows us to exist without tax dollars. This financial responsibility is a key part of Fern House’s success. Too many men that we see have struggled a whole lifetime with addictions that have cost them their jobs, their families and their self-respect also usually, their finances are in disarray. They might have court-ordered settlements to pay. Typically, they’re used to spending everything they earn on their drug of choice.
Fern House turns that around, making each resident a responsible taxpayer instead of a tax burden. Every resident is required to have a job, participate in nightly meetings and house meetings, and share in the household chores.
Many of the men who arrive at Fern House are at the end of their ropes financially, legally and socially. These are the men most at risk of falling through the cracks of other programs. At Fern House, we help them get off the streets, stand on their own feet and rebuild their lives from the ground up.
© Copyright 2024 by Fern House
