The Freedom Recovery Community Celebrates 3rd Birthday The Freedom Recovery Community, The Next Door's 20-apartment permanent housing complex offering affordable housing and supportive services to single women and their children, is 4 years old! Since its opening in August 2007, 104 women and 60 children have called the FRC home. The average stay is 12 months. Upon departure, 65% of the residents move to more independent living situations and an additional 26% move into positive living arrangements with family and friends. The children at the Freedom Recovery Community are celebrating the recent installation of a new bicycle rack and the purchase of new bicycle helmets to keep them safe while they enjoy riding their bikes. The bike rack and helmets were purchased with a generous grant from the Predators Foundation. Thank you, Predators Foundation, for helping the children at the Freedom Recovery Community! Two young girls from the FRC enjoyed a special experience at summer camp this year, thanks to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ciara, who is 12, went to summer camp for the first time ever. She was very excited but also a little anxious before she left for camp. She really had no idea what to expect but now writes, "Camp Widjiwagen was so much fun. My favorite was the Banana Boat and horses. I also enjoyed my counselors. They were real nice and encouraging. I made lots of new friends and did new things. I hope I can go again sometime." Ciara's experiences at summer camp are even more special since this time last year, she was living with her mother and siblings in a homeless shelter. After a great summer of bike-riding, camps and other fun activities, the children and moms at the Freedom Recovery Community are now preparing for the start of a new school year. They go together recently for a back to school kick-off. Even some of the little ones got in the act to celebrate new Day Care arrangements. They can be seen here showing off their new backpacks and some back to school smiles.