While we fight the move towards war and social service cutbacks, one small positive development is our opening this week of Casa libre/Freedom House, a shelter for homeless unaccompanied immigrant minors and inner-city youth. I hope you can circulate this message to friends of the Office of Americas who may wish to help Casa Libre by donating household items (or maybe even volunteer at the house).

I have attached a couple of photographs of the Freedom House/Casa Libre, a historic mansion just west of downtown LA. Many of the youth we serve are unaccompanied immigrant children who have traveled thousands of miles to the United States fleeing poverty and/or civil and political upheaval in their home countries. Youth in the shelter will receive counseling, medical and dental care, educational testing and school placement, family reunification services, cultural activities, legal services, etc.

We own this unique site (registered as a local, state and federal historic landmark) free and clear, and have recently completed a $250,000 renovation (upgrading electrical systems, plumbing, installing fire-alarms, installing wheel-chair lift, redoing bathrooms, etc.).

This week we started housing children in the home. Our first two clients are a young homeless girl who was living on the streets in skid row and a young boy who traveled here from Guatemala was living on the streets close to La Placita. We are reaching out to friends for urgently needed (1) used furniture, (2) bed linens, (3) towels, (4) kitchen utensils and cutlery, (5) used computers, printers, (5) used clothing (mostly for boys), and (6) used stereos, musicial equipment, sports equipment, etc. A complete list of needed items is attached below. We can arrange for transportation, though would welcome transportation arranged by a donor. If requested, we will issue receipts for all donations so they will be tax-deductible.

Any help you may be able to provide would be deeply appreciated. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who may be interested (just click on forward in your menu bar, insert to whom, and you may type in a note at the top).

Please contact me by phone (323) 251-3223 or email pschey@centerforhumanrights.org, if you--or anyone you may share this email with--have any questions or wish to arrange to donate items (or volunteer) for the children at the Freedom House/Casa Libre.

Thank you for your consideration.

In solidarity,

Peter A. Schey
President
Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law

CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
256 S. OCCIDENTAL BOULEVARD
LOS ANGELES, CA 90057
Telephone: (213) 388-8693 Facsimile: (213) 386-9484

Freedom House/Casa Libre Homeless Youth Shelter

Supplies needed December 8, 2002
Homeless Youth Survival bag (100)

backpacks
hats
windbreaker
portable radios
T-shirt
emergency letter
nail clippers
pens/pads
$10
small flashlights
packets batteries
Map of LA & the area
10-min phone cards
snack pack
referral materials
toiletry bag
vitamin pack
anti-drug/AIDs info
School/study supplies
Household furniture
10 computers/3 printers
10 dressers with drawers
16 clipboards
12 bedside stands
file
4 couches
locking file cabinet
4 rocking or easy chairs
pens, pencils, markers
large dining room table
paper (pads, plain, colored, etc.)
chairs for dining room
table
paper clips
2 staff work desks & chairs
5 staplers and 5 boxes staples
Long table for computers
4 scotch-tape dispensers and 10 rolls
chairs for computer table
Color Fax machine/scanner
5 Study desks or tables
Color portable copier
chairs for study
desks
10 computers, keyboards
Kitchen appliances:
Household appliances
Blender
Washer and dryer
mixer
Used stereo equipment
toaster
2 vacuum cleaners
microwave
Living room TV
dishwasher
10 clock radios

Clothing
Toiletries
30 boys long pants (all sizes)
Shampoo samples 500
60 boys shorts
Shower gel samplers 500
60 pairs boys socks
Disposable razors 100
60 pairs sneakers (all sizes)
Soap
120 T shirts
30 face clothes
30 belts
After shave samplers 500
60 bathroom sandals
100 Nail clippers
60 swim suits
First Aid Kit

Food
Snacks/Drinks
100 cans soup
100 bottled waters
Pastas and pasta sauces
Assorted candy
Eggs
100 packets biscuits
Chicken
50 bottles jam
100 bottles juices

Exercise/sporting equipment
Books, Games, Tools
2 bar bells with assorted weights
Novels
1 stationary bike
Resource books
12 bicycles
Board games
1 bike rack
Large tool box & tools
rowing machine
weight machine
4 soccer balls
1 pingpong table, bats, balls
basketball hoop/ball
6 boogie boards

Gardening tools
Plants
3 water hoses
5 buganvilla
3 sprinklers
10 daisies
2 rakes
10 bags potting soil
2 pointed shovels
50 potted plants (all varieties)
2 large outside brooms
10 large pots (5 gallon)