Fathers House celebrates one year of changing lives

Just one year after opening its doors as a faith-based, long-term recovery center for men, Fathers House Recovery Center will soon see its first man finish the 14-month program.

That man began the program just weeks after its opening and completed the eight-month residential program before moving on to the six-month transition portion. He is set to complete the program on Nov. 2.

His is not the only success story. Others will follow in the weeks following that first graduation.

The center, founded by Mike and Jeniffer Tichenor, is located at 714 West First Street in the old Assembly of God Church building in Beaver Dam. It began accepting residents on Sept. 12, 2022.

Since opening, the center has been focusing on completing the second phase of its remodel in the other portion of the building located on the property. During the past 12 months, a transition apartment with room for five from the program has been completed. Once those in the program finish the in-house portion, they have an additional six months of transition. During this time they are allowed to return home if it is a safe and healthy environment but those who don’t have a place to go can move into this apartment.

Remodeling work is continuing in the building which will eventually house an intake area, offices, in-house therapy room, community/common area and kitchen area. These will replace those areas in the current building. Once renovations on that portion of the building are complete, the current facility will be used solely as a bunkhouse and showers. This will allow them to have more beds. Once completed the center should be able to house between 30-40 men.

“We are hoping to have the majority (of the remodel) done by this time next year. That’s the goal. We are slowly making it,” said Jeniffer Tichenor.

Any funds above operating costs are being put toward finishing the remodel, she said.

The center is a 501c3 organization and operates off of donations and church partners, ARAPA money and contributions from the Ohio County Fiscal Court and fundraisers.

Potential participants in the program have to go through an interview process and meet qualifications. They take part in the original 12-step program process as well as go through a “very strict program with rules and random drug tests.”

They are required to attend nightly classes with a Bible-based curriculum.

For the first 30 days of their stay, the residents must remain at the facility 24/7. Then they are required to get a job. Once they get a job they will have to pay rent to the facility which will help fund their part of the program.

There are currently 24 clients in the Fathers House program right now – 10 in transition and 14 in-house. Five more are expected to move into transition between now and the middle of October. New clients are also scheduled to come into the center as well.

“Those guys are putting in the work and doing the hard things,” said Jeniffer Tichenor. “They are doing great. There are changed lives here.”

Tichenor said this year has been eye-opening.

“It has been a learning experience and an extreme blessing to watch these guys’ lives change,” she said. “It is very, very time-consuming and a lot of work, but it has been such a blessing.”

Tichenor said the community is always welcome to visit the facility, walk through and see their vision. They encourage area churches, businesses and organizations to become community partners with them