Who is eligible for the program?

Our nine-bed facility is set up for men, ages 19+, who have successfully completed at least a 30-day detox or have spent time incarcerated and are looking for a long-term faith-based recovery program for reentry back into society and need a place to live, grow in Christ, and find healthy community to do that in. We are a Christ-center discipleship program and believe that committing to one year in an accountable community of fellowship makes a positive environment to ensure long-term success. The year-long commitment is key: in our experience, significant growth happens all throughout the year in our program.

Our students are required to work in the primarily industrial jobs that we provide them through a local employment agency. We are not set up to accept men who are on disability or who are otherwise unable or unwilling to work.

We accept students from all over the country, though most come from neighboring counties and states. If a student is on probation, his coming into RLMO must be approved by his probation officer before he begins our program.

WILL YOU ADMIT A MAN WHO NEEDS TO DETOX INTO THE PROGRAM?

Our facility is not set up with nursing care or the staff required for direct medical supervision of detox. We are set up only for men who have already successfully completed at least a 30 detox program or longer.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR A MAN IN THE PROGRAM?

Our highly-structured program involves a combination of self-study, fellowship, work, and community service. During the week, students work full-time at jobs we provide them with the support of local employment agencies. After work, students eat dinner together at the residence. There is group programming scheduled most weeknights, from chapel services to Bible studies to attendance at recovery support groups and fun activities. Following evening programming, there is typically some free time for self-study (reading and reflecting on assignments made by the director and house manager) and relaxing before lights out. On the weekends, the ministry may volunteer as a group for various causes. Students attend church together, visiting many congregations around the area. Individually assigned mentors meet with students to go over their assigned reading from the week. Our facility functions as a large household, with daily and weekend-only chores rotating weekly and all students contributing to the good of the home. All transportation is provided, so residents are typically together for most all of the week, supporting each other in community.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE?

 We do not accept insurance, but it is not needed. We charge a one-time entry fee of $300. Then, students begin paying a $200.00/week program fee out of their employment earnings. These fees cover all essentials: full room and board, transportation, and case management.

Unlike a lot of traditional, expensive treatment or recovery programs, we are a nonprofit organization. The weekly program fees students pay cover about 20% of the actual cost for their stay; our team raises the additional 80% of costs through donations, church support, corporate sponsorships, and grants.

The balance of students’ employment earnings are placed in individual savings accounts, managed by staff during the program with regular weekly student financial status meetings. These earnings are used to gradually pay off any outstanding probation and court fees, debts, and other expenses while in our program; the balance of a student’s savings is received upon completion of the program. This is a critical component to our program: students with financial savings and paid debts are able to establish themselves independently upon graduation and are much less likely to revert to old habits due to the inability to support themselves.

DO YOU HAVE OPENINGS RIGHT NOW? HOW DO I APPLY?

We accept new students on a rolling basis, as soon as a bed is open. Because we are a long-term program, and not an emergency shelter or temporary housing facility, we spend some time vetting potential students, and allowing them to vet us, to be as sure as possible that the fit is right for us both. To get started, a potential student can complete the basic application here on our website, including primarily contact information, so we can be in touch for a screening call.

Potential students who are in jail can send letters to the attention of our director at: PO Box 330007, Murfreesboro, TN 37133, to start the process of applying.

While we remain at capacity most of the time, we like to say that we don’t keep a waiting list: if someone is serious about seeking help and we don’t have an opening or are not the right fit, we will provide referrals to other programs.

ARE STUDENTS ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE PROGRAM WHENEVER THEY CHOOSE?

Yes - we will not keep a student in our program against his will. Before he decides to withdraw, we will try to advise him in making a wise choice for his own benefit. However, once a student chooses to leave, he is not allowed to come back into the program. We work to help our students get into other programs even if they choose to leave prematurely. If a student’s enrollment in our program is part of his court-ordered sentencing, we will notify the probation office and others when a student chooses to leave.

IS PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING PROVIDED FOR STUDENTS? WHAT OTHER SUPPORT DO THEY RECEIVE?

Yes, counseling is provided on-site each week by our staff counselor, Wayne Miller. Male mentoring is also provided to students for spiritual and emotional support. Additional off-site counseling services are available based on individual needs, but may require students to pay using the income they make from their jobs.

Students attend weekly church services. RLMO offers multiple chapel services and a Bible study led by different people in the community teaching and training the men to live out Christian principles. Students also attend a group meeting every week with peer run support and spiritual guidance.

Our staff handles case management, including communication with probation officers and others.

ARE YOU A HALFWAY HOUSE? I’M JUST LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE MY LOVED ONE CAN GO FOR A LITTLE WHILE AFTER HE GETS OUT OF JAIL.

We do accept students coming straight from jail in Rutherford and other counties, and are often a great fit for establishing healthy life outside of institutionalization. Our director needs to receive a call from the applicant no less than one week before he is to be released. However, we are not a halfway house. Our residential program requires a one-year commitment and is highly structured, not allowing for the independence many halfway houses or similar facilities provide. Read more about our rules here.

WHY ARE CELL PHONES, COMPUTERS AND CARS NOT ALLOWED? ARE STUDENTS ALLOWED TO HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH FAMILY AND OTHERS?

At intake, students must sign-off to indicate their agreement to our policies, which are based on decades of successful recovery work with clients. Please read about all of our regulations here and help us to uphold these standards.