Liberty Center of Sandusky County

Mission - We provide temporary shelter in a family living environment and opportunities for personal and family development, guiding residents toward self-sufficiency and independent living. We are committed to increasing awareness of homelessness, developing and coordinating community services, and securing contributions of time, money, and resources. History - In January of 1993 a group of concerned citizens recognized the need in Sandusky County for an Emergency Shelter which would provide short term care for the homeless and displaced. Fund-raising projects began in May of 1993. The Liberty Center of Sandusky County Inc. received its 501 (c) (3) tax exemption status in March of 1994. The organization leased a facility in Fremont and opened in June of 1994 to serve homeless men, women and children. By 1999 the need for a larger facility was overwhelming. Fund-raising events for the building project and a search for a larger location began in the Spring of 1999. In January 2002 a building was purchased and extensive renovations began. December 2004 marked the move into our newly renovated facility providing 4800 square feet and doubling our resident capacity to at least 24 people. Many of the residents that we have served have been families, with the majority being single parent women and children. The vision of the Liberty Center has been to provide a family living environment where our residents will be treated with dignity and have the opportunity to start their lives over and become self-sufficient. As a result of the shelter’s philosophy many residents have found employment, housing, and regained self confidence in themselves. Many former residents have returned to volunteer at the shelter to give back and to encourage others to keep trying.

The Liberty Center provides emergency shelter, supportive services, and referrals in a family living environment. Each resident is provided emergency shelter for up to 60 days. At the shelter we strive to provide an environment for our residents that is encouraging and empowering. We provide case management to each resident assisting them to become self-sufficient by helping them to form a plan of action, with job and housing searches, and referrals to other appropriate services and agencies. We provide intensive case management for our residents in order to help them move past some of the life style pit-falls that continually prevent them from becoming and remaining self-sufficient. Some of our residents have the capabilities to sustain and maintain long term self-sufficiency and have found themselves homeless through no fault of their own (family illness, divorce, fire etc.); however, many residents are trapped in a revolving world of reoccurring events and pit falls. Through intensive case management and hands on training we assist our residents with daily life skills to prepare them to become self-sufficient. Our goal is to make a permanent difference in the lives of our residents so that we are not continually “putting a band aid on a long term problem.” Residents are followed up with after leaving the shelter for two years to track their housing and to offer assistance or direction if they are having difficulties. While at the Liberty Center residents receive all meals and toiletries. Residents are not required to pay a fee to stay at the shelter; however, they are required to work, unless disabled, and must save 80% of their income toward their future housing costs. Residents do chores, follow rules, keep a curfew and remain alcohol and drug free while at the shelter.