Safe Harbor Boys Home & Maritime Academy is seeking Christ-centered married couples and single men to live and serve as House Parents in our Jacksonville waterfront ministry. 

House Parents share everyday life with young men, ages 14–17, helping them grow spiritually, emotionally, relationally, academically, and vocationally through discipleship, consistent relationships, practical life experience, and loving accountability.

Safe Harbor operates within a private marina and maritime campus. House Parents may live aboard a program powerboat or sailboat; qualified candidates with a suitable live-aboard vessel or RV may also be considered. This active, hands-on role blends mentoring, school support, recreation, transportation, outdoor work, property projects, and daily life around docks and vessels. Boating, sailing, marina, RV, live-aboard, or small-space experience is especially helpful. Practical skills such as carpentry, mechanics, boat repair, gardening, sewing, canvas work, and other trades can become opportunities to work alongside and teach young men.

Safe Harbor has served young men and families for decades and has been featured in People Magazine and the Hallmark movie Safe Harbor. We are not simply filling a schedule. We seek people called to use what God has given them to invest in the next generation and help young men become responsible, capable, Christ-centered adults. Married House Parents also have the unique opportunity to model a healthy Christian marriage and family relationship through everyday life.

·  Create a safe, Christ-centered, home-like environment of faith, accountability, structure, compassion, and love where boys can grow into men of character, integrity, purpose, and vision.

·  Provide supervision, care, correction, clear boundaries, and consistent expectations while building healthy, trust-based relationships.

·  Model Christian life through integrity, humility, discipline, service, prayer, and daily conduct; participate in prayer, devotions, discipleship, church, and daily study in Proverbs.

·  Support school/GED work, vocational training, chores, appointments, recreation, life skills, transportation, and preparation for adulthood.

·  Participate in meals, hands-on learning, service and property projects; maintain required documentation, follow safety procedures, communicate with leadership, and help steward shared property, vehicles, equipment, and spaces.

The right House Parent understands that meaningful change is often built through consistency and hundreds of small moments, not one dramatic breakthrough.

Candidates should:

·  Have a mature, active, growing relationship with Jesus Christ and be emotionally mature, dependable, teachable, relational, and steady under pressure.

·  Combine grace and compassion with firm guidance, accountability, clear expectations, and healthy boundaries.

·  Have demonstrated experience with children or young people, particularly at-risk youth.

·  Take initiative to solve problems while respecting leadership, policies, boundaries, and program expectations.

·  Enjoy entering the world of young men through conversation, meals, work, recreation, projects, and shared experiences; work well within a team and community.

·  Be comfortable with active residential and maritime life and embrace a lifestyle of seed planting, faithfully investing even when results are not immediate.

Helpful backgrounds include youth mentoring, Christian ministry, residential childcare, foster care, education/coaching, social services, military/public safety, vocational instruction, skilled trades, facility maintenance, and outdoor/maritime work. Teachable skills including gardening, culinary arts, mechanics, carpentry, upholstery, maintenance, boat repair, sewing, canvas work, boating, sailing, and other trades are especially welcome. Formal ministry education is valued but does not replace character, calling, maturity, sound judgment, and demonstrated ability to invest in young people.

This is hands-on ministry. Some days bring meaningful conversations, spiritual milestones, and visible breakthroughs. Others are ordinary responsibilities, challenges, practical work, or simply being present when a young man needs a steady adult. Both matter. 

House Parents help young men grow in faith, character, and practical wisdom: learning how to work, communicate, take responsibility, recover from mistakes, serve others, build healthy relationships, and move toward adulthood with purpose.

·  $28,000-$30,000 annual salary per individual, based on experience, qualifications, and additional skills

·  On-site housing and utilities provided

·  Health care reimbursement up to $250/month; dental insurance buy-in option

·  Paid time off, paid training, and 403(b) retirement plan

·  Meals, food, and snacks provided on campus

·  On-site laundry, fitness facility, and fully equipped workshop access

·  Complimentary vessel moorage for qualified personal vessels; RV space with hookups when available

·  Waterfront Living & Kingdom Treasures!

Current Structure: House Parents serve on a 14-day rotation with a week of afternoon/evening and day shifts, followed by seven consecutive days off. This provides meaningful time to recharge, travel, reconnect with family, participate in church community, and prepare for the next rotation. Specific expectations are reviewed during the interview process.

·  Pass all required background screening, including applicable FBI, local law-enforcement, and driving-record checks.

·  Possess a valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.

·  Demonstrate sound judgment, reliability, communication, and conflict-management skills.

·  Be physically capable of safely navigating docks, decks, stairs, vessels, outdoor areas, and the practical demands of residential and maritime life.

Christian faith is foundational to Safe Harbor's mission. Staff are expected to faithfully instill Christian values; be born-again Christians with a mature, active, growing relationship with Jesus Christ; agree with and follow Safe Harbor's Statement of Faith and applicable Ministerial Employment Agreements; and serve as Christian role models through conduct, relationships, prayer, discipleship, and daily life.

Staff are selected based on professional and educational credentials, demonstrated experience, Christian testimony, character, maturity, and ability to faithfully carry out Safe Harbor's mission.

Safe Harbor Boys Home is a Christ-centered nonprofit ministry. Christian faith, biblical teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation are integral to our mission and daily operations. Consistent with applicable federal and Florida law, Safe Harbor reserves the right to give employment preference to individuals who share our Christian faith and are willing and able to uphold Safe Harbor's Statement of Faith, biblical values, ministry standards, and applicable Ministerial Employment Agreements.

Because House Parents serve in ministry roles that include Christian example, prayer, biblical discipleship, spiritual instruction, and devotions, an applicant's Christian faith, testimony, conduct, and ability to faithfully carry out Safe Harbor's religious mission are essential considerations in the employment process. Safe Harbor does not discriminate unlawfully on the basis of any status protected by applicable law and retains all rights and exemptions available to religious organizations.