Program Structure
The Casa Libre/Freedom House currently offers an emergency and transitional living shelter program for homeless children under the age of 18 years. The program's expertise lies in the provision of shelter, social, educational, medical and legal services for homeless children, with a focus on unaccompanied immigrant children who have often been abused, abandoned, or neglected in this home countries and traveled to the United States alone.
- Emergency shelter services include case management, immediate efforts at family reunification, educational testing, identifying and addressing urgent medical needs, investigation of areas in which legal services are needed, etc.
- Transitional living services include long-term shelter, case management, educational testing and placement, tutoring, family reunification efforts, medical and mental health care as needed, cultural activities, independent living skills workshops, and leadership training workshops.
The program is staffed by an Executive Director (Peter Schey), a Program Director (Ehecatl Rojas), an Events Coordinator (Julio Martinez), four Youth Counselors (Emmanuel Martinez, Joel Aceves, Jose Alvarez and Vanessa Morales), and a program chef (Eloida de la Cruz). Staff members are bilingual and experienced in the delivery of social services to homeless and at-risk children.
The program strives to identify and provide services for youth of diverse backgrounds, including ethnic diversity, sexual orientation, and children with physical disabilities. Services are provided to youth without homes regardless of immigration status.
Program staff have developed an expertise in providing critically needed services to unaccompanied immigrant children, a largely under-served population of at-risk children. Many other shelter programs have difficulty serving these children because they often do not speak English and have unique immigration status issues that impact on their eligibility for social services, education, employment, etc.
The Casa Libre/Freedom House program has developed mechanisms to legalize the immigration status of its residents who have been abused, abandoned or neglected abroad or following their entry into the United States. Once legalized, these children become eligible for a wide range of social services, and for the first time can afford to continue their education beyond high school and may be lawfully employed. No other single service more dramatically and positively changes the opportunities available to immigrant homeless and at-risk immigrant children. No other shelter that we are aware of provides this type of service for immigrant resident children.
Finally, the Casa Libre/Freedom House offers its residents a range of cultural and creative art activities, including photography, music lessons, monthly "Film Night at Casa Libre" with presentations by the film-makers, and routine weekend outings to sporting events, museums, parks, etc.
Resident participation in program development and evaluation
The program permits and encourages minors residing at the Casa Libre/Freedom House to actively participate in the develop of program developments and evaluation.
Youth are encouraged both individually and in small groups to review the program's operation, make recommendations regarding program improvement or modification, and evaluate the effectiveness of staff.
Youth are also encouraged to receive leadership training, and prior to termination from the program, to participate in peer training and guidance programs. Selected youth are offered the opportunity to remain for one to three additional months at the Casa Libre/Freedom House after their normal stay ends to serve as peer leaders for new-comers to the program.
Community outreach and Intake process
The homeless youth project has for several years offered an innovative and comprehensive street outreach program including youth counseling and intake services. Youth counselors conduct outreach several nights each week. Youth without homes or living in emergency shelters are identified and evaluated for possible participation in the Casa Libre program. Homeless and at risk youth are also provided food, crisis counseling, and referrals to agencies providing low or no-cost services. Youth are carefully evaluated through a rigorous intake process prior to admission to the Casa Libre/Freedom House program.
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