Frequently Asked Questions

There is no cost. Participation in the ministry is free, and there is no insurance necessary. Because we are a working ministry, the wages of the men in Phases 2, 3, and 4 serve to sustain about ⅔ of our operating costs! The rest comes from generous individuals and churches, but all together affords us the chance to offer the men and their families this opportunity completely free of charge.

There are two ways to start the intake process. One is to fill out a prescreen application on our website. After that, a member of our staff will get in touch to continue the process. 

The second is to call our intake line at 614-991-0131 and speak to a member of our staff. 

Yes, we accept men from out-of-state as well as Ohio residents. If you are coming from out of state, we strongly recommend that you contact us to set up a pre-screening interview before arriving for an Orientation. If you live 2+ hours away from the Orientation location, please call 614-991-0131 or fill out the pre-screen application here.

Men are welcome to come to one of our weekly orientations once they are released. However, we are not able to reserve beds in advance. If he lives more than two hours from our Orientation locations, he can fill out a prescreen application after he is released. NOTE: We will not conduct prescreening interviews unless the man has filled out the prescreen application himself.

• 8 pairs of pants/shorts
• 8 shirts
• 3 sweaters/sweatshirts
• 3 pairs of shoes
• 8 pairs of socks & underwear
• 1 Bible & notebook
• Personal hygiene products:
• 1 shampoo & conditioner
• 1 body wash & bar of soap
• 1 deodorant
• 1 non-electric toothbrush,1 tube of toothpaste
• 1 bag non electric razors, 1 can shaving cream
• 1 hair-style product if needed.

Our “blessings closet” can help provide any items the applicant is not able to bring.

Note: Please make arrangements to be dropped off at Orientation, or have your car picked up the same day. The Refuge is not responsible for personal vehicles after applicants are accepted to the program.

We only accept men who are 18 years old or older.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept registered sex offenders.

For the safety of our staff and men, we cannot medically detox, and therefore cannot accept men whose drug of choice was benzodiazepines or alcohol unless they have are already detoxed. Our staff is, however, very much accustomed to helping men through the process of withdrawal/detox from heroin, opiates, and other substances. These may be handled on a case-by-case basis.

The Refuge is a ministry that bases its programming on orthodox Christian values.

When men phase up to our Phase Two home, they can begin making weekly phone calls. At this point, they will be the ones to invite you to Family Day and provide all of the necessary information about the event.

Yes. We do all we can to provide opportunities for the men to launch with everything they need to walk as responsible men of God. He will have more opportunities to explore these possibilities as he moves into our Phase 3.

Thank you! For a complete list of our current needs, please the “immediate physical needs” section at the bottom of our “Pray, Serve, Give” page.

To inquire about making or delivering donations, please call our admin line: 614-546-5160 or email Facilities Manager Jordan Wagner at jordan.wagner@therefugeohio.org

Four things:

1. We seek to honor God in everything we do.
2. We’ve seen the power of authentic, transparent discipleship. The men gain the support and honest friendships of a brotherhood here that it is difficult to find or build elsewhere.
3. We focus on holistic care & training. Addiction cannot be isolated and treated as one single issue. By the time men get to our doors, more often than not, addiction has taken over every part of their lives. We believe that any hope for change comes through Christ, practically through the new life that He offers – transformation of personal integrity, family values, work ethic, ongoing and intentional service, authenticity, leadership, and prayer. We are by no means perfect – but this is the model we strive for.
4. By the time a man completes The Refuge, he has more than a year of sobriety, close to a year of full-time work history, the offer of a full-time job providing a living wage, access to long-term sober housing at a deeply discounted rate, a $1,000 completion bonus to help with first month’s rent and other immediate expenses, all necessary documents (social security card, drivers’ license or state ID), and the support of a community of men to encourage him and provide accountability. This sets him up for long-term success from the day he completes.