Who We Serve
A Program Built for Men Who Are Ready to Move Forward
NPIS has structured transitional housing and practical support for three populations of men throughout California with transitional housing and supportive services based in Bakersfield and Kern County.
Who NPIS Is Designed to Serve
Not every man who needs transitional housing is in the same situation. Veterans returning from service, men leaving incarceration, and young adults aging out of foster care or juvenile justice involvement each face distinct challenges and each deserves a program that understands those challenges.
NPIS is developing a program that can serve all three of these populations within a shared, structured, accountability-centered environment. Participants will be expected to follow clear rules, maintain sobriety, meet their responsibilities, and actively work toward their personal goals.
Population One
Veterans in Transition
Honoring service. Supporting the transition home.
Men who have served in the United States military often face a difficult transition back to civilian life. The structure, purpose, and community of military service can be hard to replace and without the right support, that gap can lead to housing instability, unemployment, substance use, and isolation.
What Veterans in Transition Often Face
- Difficulty translating military experience and skills into civilian employment
- Loss of the structure, routine, and sense of purpose that military service provided
- Social isolation and difficulty reconnecting with family and community
- Mental health challenges including PTSD, depression, and anxiety
- Substance use as a coping mechanism for stress, trauma, or transition
- Difficulty navigating VA benefits, healthcare, and veteran-serving resources
- Housing instability or homelessness following discharge or separation
How NPIS Plans to Help
- A structured, sober residential environment that mirrors the discipline and accountability of military life
- Mentorship focused on purpose, identity, and the transition from service member to civilian
- Support navigating VA benefits, healthcare enrollment, and veteran-specific resources
- Employment readiness support including résumé development, interview preparation, and job search assistance
- Connections to veteran-serving organizations in Kern County
- A community of peers who understand the unique experience of military service and transition
Eligibility note: NPIS will serve veterans who are committed to sobriety, willing to follow program rules and expectations, and actively working toward stable independent living. Veterans with active substance use disorders may be referred to appropriate treatment resources prior to or alongside program participation.
Population Two
Justice-Involved Adults
Accountability. Opportunity. A second chance built on structure.
Men returning from incarceration or participating in probation, parole, or community reentry programs face some of the most significant barriers to stable housing and employment of any population. Without stable housing, the likelihood of reoffending increases dramatically and without a structured, supportive environment, the transition from incarceration to independence is extremely difficult.
What Justice-Involved Adults Often Face
- Difficulty finding housing due to criminal background and landlord restrictions
- Limited employment options due to background checks and employer hesitancy
- Lack of valid identification documents, including state ID, Social Security card, and birth certificate
- Disconnection from family, community, and social support networks
- Probation or parole requirements that are difficult to meet without stable housing and employment
- Substance use history and risk of relapse without structured support
- Limited financial resources, no credit history, and no savings
How NPIS Plans to Help
- Stable, structured housing that satisfies probation and parole residency requirements
- Assistance obtaining identification documents including state ID, Social Security card, and birth certificate
- Employment readiness support including résumé development, interview preparation, and employer connections
- Life-skills development including financial literacy, budgeting, communication, and healthy routines
- Faith-based mentorship focused on character, accountability, and personal responsibility
- Connections to reentry-focused community organizations, legal aid resources, and social services
- A structured, sober environment with clear expectations and consistent accountability
Eligibility note: NPIS will serve men who are committed to sobriety, willing to follow program rules and expectations, and actively working toward stable independent living. Participants must be in compliance with any active probation or parole requirements. NPIS is not a court-ordered program and does not provide supervision services.
Population Three
Transition-Age Young Men
Building the foundation they were never given.
Young men between the ages of 18 and 24 who are transitioning out of foster care, juvenile justice involvement, or unstable family situations often enter adulthood without the skills, resources, or support systems that most people take for granted. Without intervention, many face homelessness, unemployment, substance use, and involvement in the adult criminal justice system.
What Transition-Age Young Men Often Face
- Aging out of foster care with no stable housing, family support, or financial resources
- Limited life skills including cooking, budgeting, time management, and household management
- No credit history, limited work history, and no professional references
- Lack of positive adult mentors, role models, and accountability relationships
- Trauma history from childhood abuse, neglect, or system involvement
- Limited education and vocational training
- Vulnerability to negative peer influence, gang involvement, and substance use
How NPIS Plans to Help
- A stable, structured home environment with consistent adult mentorship and accountability
- Practical life-skills development including cooking, budgeting, household management, and time management
- Education and vocational training support and connections to GED, community college, and trade programs
- Employment readiness support including first-job preparation, résumé development, and employer connections
- Faith-based mentorship focused on identity, purpose, character, and healthy relationships
- Connections to transition-age youth services, benefits navigation, and community resources
- A structured, sober environment that provides the stability and guidance many young men never received
Eligibility note: NPIS will serve young men ages 18 to 24 who are committed to sobriety, willing to follow program rules and expectations, and actively working toward stable independent living. Young men with active juvenile justice supervision may be served in coordination with their supervising agency.
Program Expectations
What We Expect From Every Participant
Every NPIS participant enters the program with a different story, but everyone is held to the same core standard. These expectations are designed to promote accountability, personal growth, stability, and a safe, respectful community where lasting progress can take place.
- Maintain sobriety from alcohol and all non-prescribed substances
- Follow all program guidelines, curfews, and household expectations.
- Actively pursue employment, education, vocational training, or other approved goals.
- Participate in life-skills development, mentorship, and other individualized support services.
- Treat fellow participants, staff, neighbors, and community members with dignity and respect.
- Develop and actively work toward an individualized transition plan focused on stable housing, self-sufficiency, and independant living.
Who NPIS Is Not Designed to Serve
NPIS provides structured transitional housing and supportive services and is not an emergency shelter, detoxification facility, medical facility or crisis treatment program. Individuals requiring a higher level of care, including continuous medical supervision, inpatient or intensive behavioral health treatment, medically supervised detoxification, or secure residential treatment, should be referred to an appropriate licensed provider. Participation in NPIS requires individuals to be able and willing to engage in the program, maintain a safe and substance-free living environment, and follow established program and community standards. All referrals are reviewed individually to determine whether NPIS can appropriately meet the applicant's needs within the scope of services we provide.
Ready to Connect?
If you represent an agency, organization, or program that works with any of these populations, we welcome your referral inquiry. If you are a man who may benefit from NPIS in the future, please reach out to be added to our contact list.