Liberty Center housing programs and resources.
The programs listed below are some of the resources available by the Liberty Center. While the non-profit will try to help those in an emergency housing situation, in some cases the staff will provide referrals instead. This is particularity true when it comes to cash assistance for energy bills, rent, or other expenses. Most of those needs are met in Sandusky County from linkage to local charities or non-profits.
What the Liberty Center may be able to offer directly includes shelter as well as non-monetary resources, such as personal hygiene supplies and clothing. This may be food for a family faced with hunger. Or other basic needs provided can include clothing for work or of course families can shop at the local thrift store for discounted items.
Lodging and case management are available through the Liberty Center Family Shelter. The program maintains short term accommodations, apartments, or even small three-bedroom houses located in a neighborhood in Sandusky County. All of these allow families to shelter temporarily (for up to 60 days) as they work with their case managers to set goals and find stable, permanent housing. Families are welcome to stay on a month-to-month basis, dependent on each family’s agreement to adhere to and follow program guidelines.
Family resettlement and support services help clients transition from homelessness to housing stability. These services are offered to former guests of the agency’s emergency shelter. There is also assistance for homeless families placed in motels by the local Sandusky County Ohio social services department. Resources will help them budget resources, improve employment prospects and manage entitlements and benefits.
Liberty Center works with individuals to resolve the issues that led to the eviction/foreclosure and connects clients with community-based human-services organizations that help them live independently. They will also look into financial aid and grant programs for rent and other housing costs.
Referrals for mental-health and substance-abuse counseling are also available. These free resettlement and support services are provided for up to one year after family has left the emergency shelter or motel placement.
Basic needs and job programs from Liberty Center
Soup Kitchen from Liberty Center serves hundreds of meals per year. It is operated as the result of a dedicated team of volunteers from the non-profit as well as local churches. There are also donations of food and money that keep this service running. The center is open to anyone in need, and there are no questions asked. Priority will always be for those guests of the shelter.
Employment, GED Prep and Education services from the Liberty Center assists clients so they can both obtain and retain employment. Some of these, such as GEDs, are for non-traditional students. Others, such as Employment Readiness, use a case manager to offer people individualized counseling. Everything has the objective of allowing people to prepare to earn a sustainable wage by meeting the demands of the job market. This will allow them to sustain their rent payments on their own, or maybe save money for a security deposit.
Sessions occur on topics such as resume preparation, interviewing skills, local job search and retention skills. GED classes are held across Sandusky County Ohio and can take place in the afternoon or evenings. Students work with volunteer teachers and others at their own pace.
Workforce Services is a free, high quality supportive programs for local businesses and low-income area residents desiring steady employment. It also can support the under or unemployed in the region. It provides access to free employment resources for clients to obtain or retain a job. Details for the program are noted below.
- Job training opportunities may be arranged.
- Receive access to employment resources.
- Counselors as part of workforce offer Career Mapping.
- Receive access to community contacts from Liberty Center for other services.
The Clothing Exchange Service at the Liberty Center is a popular program in the community that offers low to moderate income families a chance to receive new and gently used clothes. Many beneficiaries of this are those families that stay in the local shelters.
Donations of goods such as baby items, strollers, toys and diapers are used to help clients. Residents enrolled into the job training services will also be given work clothing. There is also assistance for babies aged 0-6 months, so help in the form of donations are always greatly appreciated.
The Liberty Center staff will help in other ways as well, with the goal always being on increasing life skills and ending homelessness. The address is 1421 East State Street, Fremont, Ohio 43420. Call (419) 332-8777.
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