As his release from the Clay County Detention Center approached, Joseph Haste wanted to stay in the community where he had begun changing his life. To make that possible, he needed a place to live and an opportunity to work.
Today, Haste has turned a temporary work experience with the City of Manchester into a permanent job, and earned a raise along the way. With support from Daniel Boone Community Action Agency and EKCEP’s Recovery & Reentry services, he found an opportunity to prove himself. His determination and work ethic helped him make it last.
“My journey down here started when I got shipped to Clay County from Kenton County Detention Center on June 3rd of 2025,” Haste said.
While incarcerated, Haste decided to dedicate his life to his Christian faith, a decision he credits with helping change the course of his future. That decision also led him to participate in a work release program, giving him an opportunity to begin preparing for life after incarceration. As his release approached, Haste began thinking about what would come next.
“When it came close to getting out, I was asked what I was going to do,” Haste said. “I said, ‘Well, if I had a place to stay down here, I would stay.’”
During his time at the Clay County Detention Center, Haste met Danny Reid, who served as his work release supervisor. After hearing Haste’s desire to remain in Clay County following his release, Reid reached out to Kenna’s Dream, a sober living organization in Clay County that provides individuals in recovery with a place to stay while they work toward employment and stability.
The connection gave Haste a place to stay and an opportunity to begin building his life outside of incarceration.
As Haste continued searching for employment, Leahann Collins, Haste’s peer support specialist, spoke with Haste and recommended that he sign up for Daniel Boone Community Action Agency’s Recovery & Reentry Program.
“My peer support, Leahann Collins was like, let’s go up to Daniel Boone and try to get you applied for a work ready program, because she had went through it previously and it helped her to get where she’s at now,” said Haste.
Collins connected Haste to Kim Carr, a career advisor with Daniel Boone Community Action Agency, and asked her to assist with his job search. Daniel Boone is part of the regional Kentucky Career Center network and partners with EKCEP to provide local access to career services, training, and work experience opportunities, including support for people rebuilding their lives after incarceration or while in recovery. Through that partnership, Carr helped Haste take the next step toward employment.
Carr and Daniel Boone’s Business Solutions team helped connect Haste with a work experience opportunity with the City of Manchester, where Mayor Steve Collins was willing to give him a chance to prove himself. Haste began the placement on July 20, 2026. Federal workforce funding through EKCEP covered Haste’s wages during the placement, giving the city an opportunity to evaluate him for a permanent position while he gained experience on the job.
Haste quickly proved himself to be a dedicated and hardworking employee. Seeing his work experience as an opportunity for change, he never took the chance he was given for granted.
“If you come in somewhere and you don’t want the help, it’s not going to help you,” he said. “You have to put in the work, too, in order to get where you need to be.”
His performance eventually caught the attention of Mayor Collins, who saw an opportunity to turn Haste’s work experience into a permanent position.
Collins said the City of Manchester has seen the value of giving individuals opportunities to prove themselves through workforce and recovery programs.
“Most of these people that we’ve hired through these programs have come through recovery,” Collins said. “I keep an eye on those work release programs pretty closely. If there appears to be a really good worker that goes through those programs that sort of stand out, we take note. When they get out, we try to run them through those programs to get them back into the workforce.”
For Collins, Haste stood out because of his work ethic and determination.
“Like Joseph said, you have to want to do it,” Collins said. “I think Joseph’s future is bright, but it’s because he wanted to do better. That’s something that’s important to us.”
On Sept. 16, Haste learned that his work had paid off: the City of Manchester was hiring him for a permanent position.
“I got a phone call from them that said I’ll be starting Wednesday,” Haste said.
Haste was officially hired by the City of Manchester as a General Laborer. In recognition of his hard work and self-discipline, he was also given a one-dollar-per-hour raise.
For Haste, the opportunity represents more than simply a new job. It is another step in rebuilding his life and creating a future beyond incarceration. Today, Haste credits EKCEP, Daniel Boone Community Action Agency, the City of Manchester and the many people who supported him throughout his journey.
“They paved the path,” Haste said. “They paved two-to-three months of my journey through their work program.”
Haste also expressed his gratitude to Mayor Collins and the people who supported him throughout his recovery and transition into employment.
“I want to give a special thanks to Mayor Steve Collins,” he said. “I want to thank Kenna’s Dream for everything that they’ve done for me. I want to thank my peer support Leahann Collins, Missy Fields, the owners of Kenna’s Dream Jennifer Smith and Kenna Smith, my pastors Jonathan Henson and John Bolley, Raymon Asher, and Gia Lawson.”
Haste’s experience demonstrates how workforce and Recovery & Re-Entry services can help individuals overcome barriers to employment by providing opportunities to gain experience, earn wages and demonstrate their abilities to an employer.
Through Daniel Boone Community Action Agency and EKCEP’s Recovery & Re-Entry services, Haste was able to turn a temporary work experience into permanent employment with the City of Manchester.
His story also demonstrates the importance of employers willing to give individuals an opportunity to prove themselves.
When asked what advice he would give to others who may find themselves in a similar situation, Haste emphasized the importance of perseverance and faith.
“Never give up. When you find God, new doors will open,” Haste said. “No matter where you start, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.”
For Haste, those new doors have led to a fresh start, a career with the City of Manchester and a future he is continuing to build one step at a time.
EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. EKCEP is funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, along with various federal and state grants and private donations, and is a proud partner in the American Job Center network. Learn more at ekcep.org.