Our Mission
Support Community. Rehabilitate Men.
“To help indigent male chronic alcoholics and drug addicts achieve sustained sobriety and return to the mainstream of society as productive, responsible citizens.”
Four decades of second chances
Fern House incorporated in 1983 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Today the organization serves approximately 325 men annually across a two-stage program: a 59-bed Stage 1 campus on Church Street where every resident begins, and a 40-bed Stage 2 campus — the Harry Hamilton Campus — that residents move up to after completing Stage 1. We provide not just shelter but supervision, life-skills development, and the support recovery demands. A 17-member Board of Directors guides our operations.
We primarily serve men who are formerly incarcerated, uninsured, and experiencing homelessness. Many arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs, facing significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges. From the moment they enter our program, we connect them with professionals who help secure health insurance, provide medical evaluations, and coordinate the care they need. Through grant-funded programs, residents also receive medications at no cost, removing financial barriers so they can focus on their recovery and rebuilding their lives.
In 2012, Fern House II opened as a transitional facility in Lake Worth. As of 2025, renovations brought capacity to 59 beds at the Stage 1 Church Street location and 40 at the Stage 2 Harry Hamilton campus.
It's not easy
Our program is built on structure, accountability, compassion, and personal responsibility. Residents commit to a disciplined, substance-free lifestyle while following a structured daily routine that fosters stability, healthy habits, and lasting recovery. Through consistent support and high expectations, men gain the tools and confidence they need to build independent, productive lives.
Charles Adkins has managed Fern House since 2024, exemplifying the organization's values. Fern House accepts no government funding — all residents are required to work, participate in meetings, and contribute to household operations, becoming taxpayers rather than a public burden.
Last Chances, New Starts
We offer help and hope to men rebuilding their lives. Your gift keeps beds open and doors unlocked for the next person who needs them.