Workforce Help for Men in Recovery in Asheville & Western NC
Local resources built to help men in recovery get back to work, with second-chance employers and programs that remove barriers like records and disabilities.
Getting back to work after treatment or incarceration is not about motivation. It is about access. Western North Carolina has real programs that remove barriers, provide training, and connect men in recovery to steady work with employers who hire second-chance candidates.
Quick Answer
Asheville and Western NC have workforce programs built for men in recovery, including NC Employment Independence for Persons with Disabilities (EIPD, no waitlist), Goodwill Workforce Development Center, INspire Recovery to Career, NCWorks, and Asheville Chamber’s Inclusive Hiring Partners. These programs provide job training, remove barriers like records and transportation, and connect you to second-chance employers. Start with EIPD (call 1-877-832-3832) or contact Lighthouse Foundation at [email protected] for guidance.
Priority resource: NC Employment Independence for Persons with Disabilities (EIPD)
This is the first place Lighthouse sends men in recovery who need workforce help.
What it is: A North Carolina state program that helps adults with disabilities that interfere with work access training, job placement, and steady employment.
Who qualifies: Adults with disabilities, including:
- Substance use disorder (may qualify you for the program)
- Mental health conditions
- Chronic health conditions
- Physical disabilities
Criminal records do not disqualify you. If you have a disability that interferes with work, you can access EIPD.
Key fact: EIPD has no statewide waitlist. If you qualify, you can start the process now.
How to access:
- Call the Asheville office at 1-877-832-3832 (toll-free)
- Contact Lighthouse Foundation at [email protected] or (828) 222-3666 and we will connect you
Why it matters: EIPD helps you earn income, which means you can afford sober living housing, build savings, and move toward independence. It is not just job placement; it is a pathway out of the housing and income barriers that keep men stuck.
Goodwill Workforce Development Center
Location: Patton Ave, Asheville
What it is: A one-stop workforce center with free career help, skills classes, adult education, and strong second-chance support under one roof.
Services include:
- Free career counseling and job search help
- Skills training classes
- A-B Tech adult high school desk (GED support on-site)
- Justice Navigation: Built specifically for men coming out of the justice system, providing reentry support and employer connections
Who it serves: Anyone, including men with records, men in recovery, and men with disabilities.
Why it is strong: Goodwill has deep connections with second-chance employers and understands the barriers men face when reentering the workforce. If you are recently out of incarceration or treatment, this is a safe place to start.
Contact: Visit in person at the Patton Ave location or call Goodwill Asheville at (828) 298-9023.
INspire Recovery to Career
Specialty: Men recently out of treatment or prison who need practical, immediate support to get back to work.
What makes it different: INspire understands that a resume does not help if you do not have a ride to the interview or clothes that fit. They remove the barriers that stop men before they start.
Services include:
- Rides to interviews and NCWorks
- Bus passes
- Work clothes
- Phone assistance
- Help with sober living entry costs
Who it serves: Men in recovery or reentry, especially those recently out of treatment or incarceration.
Why it matters: You cannot hold a job if you cannot get to the interview. INspire fills the gaps that other programs miss.
Contact: Call (828) 251-6622 or email Brandon Manson at [email protected].
Asheville Chamber Inclusive Hiring Partners (IHP)
What it is: A network of Asheville-area employers committed to hiring second-chance candidates and removing barriers to employment.
Key benefit: Access to informational interviews with participating employers through the IHP process.
Services include:
- Access to a network of committed second-chance employers
- Help with barriers: transportation, childcare, training
- Hundreds of open jobs with real benefits and pay
Who it serves: Anyone with barriers to employment, including men with records, men in recovery, and men with disabilities.
Why it works: These employers have made a public commitment to inclusive hiring. They are not guessing whether you are hirable; they have already decided to consider second-chance candidates.
Contact: Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Apply through the IHP interest form.
Training and education
A-B Tech Continuing Education and GED
What it offers: Short, practical training that changes your paycheck.
Programs include:
- CDL (Commercial Driver’s License)
- CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)
- Welding
- HVAC
- Trades certifications
- Free GED/HiSET prep
Cost: Varies by program, but free GED prep is available. Some training is covered by scholarships, SNAP E&T (see below), or EIPD.
Contact: A-B Tech Continuing Education, (828) 398-7903, or visit abtech.edu.
More Than A Job NC (SNAP E&T)
Eligibility: If you receive SNAP (food stamps), you qualify.
What it covers: 100% free tuition, books, supplies, and testing for A-B Tech training programs. A career navigator is included to help you stay on track.
Why it matters: This turns expensive training programs into free pathways to better-paying work.
How to access: Contact Buncombe County Health and Human Services at (828) 250-5500 and ask about More Than A Job NC, or visit morethanajob.org.
Recovery-friendly employers in Western North Carolina
Some employers in Asheville and WNC actively hire men in recovery and men with records. Here are verified ones.
Deep Time Coffee, Sojourner Program
What it is: A 9-month paid coffee roasting training program for returning citizens.
Who it serves: Men with records who want a fresh start in a skilled trade.
Why it works: You are paid while you train, and mentorship is included. The program is designed to turn incarceration into a career.
Contact: Deep Time Coffee at deeptimeavl.org.
Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness
What they do: Sunrise maintains a fuller list of recovery-friendly employers in the Asheville area and can connect you directly.
Contact: (828) 552-3858.
Lighthouse /jobs directory
Lighthouse Foundation maintains a directory of 33 workforce organizations and 16 second-chance employers across Western NC. View it at lighthouse.house/jobs.
Veterans services
ABCCM Veterans Services of the Carolinas (HVRP)
Eligibility: Any veteran, regardless of era or discharge status. If you served, this is your fast track.
Services include:
- Paid training
- Certifications
- Tools
- Work clothing
- Transportation
- Job placement
Contact: (828) 259-5325 or visit abccm.org.
ABCCM Veterans Restoration Quarters
What it is: Transitional housing for homeless male veterans, including workforce support.
Contact: (828) 259-5333.
Not sure where to begin?
Call 2-1-1 (free, any time). A real person will point you to the right workforce program in your county.
Or contact Lighthouse Foundation at [email protected] or (828) 222-3666. We connect men in recovery to workforce programs, including EIPD, and can help you figure out the right first step.
Bottom line
Workforce help for men in recovery in Western NC is not hypothetical. It is local, accessible, and built for people with records, disabilities, and gaps in employment. Start with EIPD, Goodwill, or INspire. Contact Lighthouse if you need help navigating which program is right for you.
Frequently asked questions
What workforce programs help men in recovery in Asheville?
NC Employment Independence for Persons with Disabilities (EIPD) is the top resource. It helps adults with disabilities, which may include substance use disorder, access training and job placement. No statewide waitlist. Other programs include Goodwill Workforce Development, INspire Recovery to Career, NCWorks Career Center, and Asheville Chamber's Inclusive Hiring Partners.
Does having a criminal record disqualify me from workforce programs in Western NC?
No. Many WNC workforce programs are built for men with records. Goodwill's Justice Navigation, INspire Recovery to Career, Asheville Chamber's Inclusive Hiring Partners, and NCWorks all serve men with records. Second-chance employers across the region hire people with backgrounds. A record does not stop you from accessing training or work.
What is NC EIPD and how do I access it?
NC Employment Independence for Persons with Disabilities (EIPD) is a state program that helps adults with disabilities that interfere with work, which may include substance use disorder and mental health conditions. EIPD provides job training, placement, and support. Call the Asheville office at 1-877-832-3832 (toll-free), or contact Lighthouse Foundation at [email protected] for help connecting.
Are there free job training programs for men in recovery in Asheville?
Yes. A-B Tech offers free GED prep and short-term training (CDL, CNA, welding, HVAC) if you qualify for More Than A Job NC (SNAP E&T). NCWorks provides free resume help, computer access, and training scholarships. EIPD covers job training costs for men with disabilities. Goodwill and INspire offer free career help and skills classes.
Who are recovery-friendly employers in Western North Carolina?
Recovery-friendly employers include Deep Time Coffee (9-month paid coffee roasting training for returning citizens), Givens Communities, Asheville Chamber's Inclusive Hiring Partners network, and employers listed through Sunrise Community for Recovery at (828) 552-3858. Lighthouse Foundation's /jobs directory lists 16 second-chance employers who hire men with records or in recovery.
Can I get workforce help if I'm a veteran in recovery?
Yes. ABCCM Veterans Services of the Carolinas (HVRP) serves any veteran regardless of discharge status, providing paid training, certifications, tools, clothing, transportation, and job placement. Contact them at (828) 259-5325. All veterans can also access EIPD, Goodwill, NCWorks, and other workforce programs.
What if I don't have transportation to get to job training or interviews?
INspire Recovery to Career provides rides to interviews and NCWorks, plus bus passes. Some WNC workforce programs include transportation assistance. Lighthouse Foundation connects men to programs that remove barriers like transportation. Call (828) 222-3666 or email [email protected] to discuss your situation.
Looking for a safe place to land?
Whether you are seeking housing or you partner with someone who needs one, we will help you find the right next step.