For students

You do not need a rescue story. You need a real next step.

Get a first Texas trade card, a crew, a church mentor, and a contractor pushing for your success.

Organized trade tools, a carpenter's square, and a small brass cross on a workshop bench

The Fair Start Foundationwork, worship, stand

The deal

I'm not here to rescue you. I'm here with a deal.

You show up. You stay safe. You take coaching. You sit under the Word. We walk with you toward an apprentice or technician registration and a job introduction.

This is not a handout. It is a covenant. Work does not save; Christ saves. But steady work can help you stand, provide, and serve.

What you get

A path toward the right first Texas card
200–400 documented training hours
A crew and a licensed supervisor
Friday keep-the-job coaching
A Sunday church with a named mentor
An introduction to work — not a promise of a job

Three first cards

Pick the path that fits your hands.

Fair Start does not issue licenses. We walk you to the state's card, then keep you under a licensed supervisor so hours count.

Electrical

Electrical Apprentice

Age 16+. No experience or exam required. Work under general supervision while you build toward the next card.

See the path

HVAC / ACR

ACR Registered Technician

Age 16+. No experience or exam required. Work under a licensed ACR contractor while you learn the code.

See the path

Plumbing

Plumber's Apprentice

Age 16+. Register before hours start counting. Work under direct on-site supervision of a licensed plumber.

See the path

What we require

Safety is a spiritual discipline.

Tools do not care about good intentions. We ask for the habits that make a crew safe and a promise worth something.

Willing to work Monday–Friday

Saturday + Sunday required

Sober enough to be safe around tools, or in recovery with a plan

Referred by a church, shelter, or recovery home

Signs a covenant: show up, no violence, no theft, submit to coaching

Measured, not vague

Graduation requires all six.

All six are required. This is a measurable program, not an activity.

200–400 documented training hours

OSHA-10 or equivalent

Resume + two mock interviews

Checking account + simple budget

Church connection with a named mentor

Job interview or apprenticeship slot

See if Fair Start fits

When the start is not fair

For some young adults, the alternatives are homelessness and the prison system. We will say that plainly. A skilled trade and Jesus are not a soft option. They are a serious path.