Libertae Inc – Bensalem

genuinely the worst place, i was here about 2 years ago & there was covid going around & a few people here had it but apparently the people who had it were supposed to stay in their room to quarantine but nope, just… walking around the without a mask mind you kids stay here too & some of the babies got sick like it was hard to watch. i didn’t even finish my stay because this place is so backwards.. so full of drama / negativity it’s prevents you from even being able to focus on yourself & what you have going on. if you like fighting, rumors, drama & staff that just want their money & could care less about your recovery, just come here it’s the perfect place for you 😂 what a joke. i’m glad i left this place when i did because i found somewhere better that actually got me where i am today. i feel like if i stayed here i would still be in a bad place because like i said there’s too much going on here it’s IMPOSSIBLE to focus on yourself. i just had to say something cause people should know.

i went here in 2023 and let me tell you, it works if you work it. the residents were the most difficult thing for me to have to deal with, and only because they were people who acted just like me. even in that, i met… one person i am still friends with today. the staff and i got along fine and i used every resource of theirs that i possibly could. i ended up moving into the recovery house across the street after working a few months. overall i love this place and recommend it but you’d better get eyes on the prize and ignore external distractions. it’s easy to get frustrated or sidetracked over trivial things but so long as you remember the goal is to remain sober and move up, you’ll do fine.

Stuck it out. I wish their was more to offer far as daily programs need more, but wonder staff

Most of the mothers here are victims of human/ sex trafficking and this place is supposed to help you with becoming more independent for you, the mother, along with your children to stop the cycle of substance abuse… (jails. ins., death for many.) I was only making $15.50 at my job and even working full- time could not renew my lease without a co- signer, which I recently lost financial help from my grandfather, while waiting for LOW- INCOME HOUSING through MONTCO to get a voucher so I could put a roof over my childrens' heads. Before I went to Libertae, I was referred to numerous outlets that supposedly help people who are homeless, or on the verge of going homeless- (Your WAY Home, THE LAURELL HOUSE (Norristown PA), COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, Brittan, from WOMEN IN TRANSITION, etc. referred by 211 in MONTCO) none of these non- profits helped when I was homeless. The constable locked me out of my apartment in July, Jodi L. Griffiths, the judge in CONSHOHOCKEN, PA told me there was absolutely nothing they could do to help me, and that I had to evict my apartment immediately, this is following me going to court to try and get my kids back, and I didn't get custody b/c of not having, "resources to provide for them.) I made only $15.50/ hr at my job, rent for my apartment was $1,450/ a month. I went to LIBERTAE voluntarily to try and get my children back, after hearing how this place helps mothers struggling w/ substance abuse who need help getting their children back on the Clean and Sober Podcast. They had two individuals by the name of Steve, and Denise Leckerman on the show representing LIBERTAE and I was very hopeful that they could help me, since I have struggled w/ substance abuse in the past. At LIBERTAE, we used an app called BASSCAMP to communicate with staff, and the 50 something girls we lived with. I had a roommate, Mary- Beth Grimaldi, who claimed to be from Connecticut, but was in treatment there to not lose her social worker licence. She supposedly was a social worker at Penn Medicine on the verge of losing her license, and her 3 year old son, and husband due to substance abuse. My other roommate Trisha Tonkin, was a single mother, married once before, and divorced, also adopted, and 4 children, 3 which were in foster care, and she was trying to get custody of her 4 month daughter. Mary- Beth had to complete a program so she could get CYS to close her case, and saw her son every weekend. Trisha had visits with her 4 month old a couple times a week, and should have been able to get housing, and CYS to close her case. Trisha and I are both living with men a lot older than us, and I was left with no help from Libertae at all after discharged. I was told by ANNA, the admissions coordinator that I would be here for 4- 6 months and would help me get my 4 year old daughter to come live with me at LIBERTAE on the unit where the children stay with their mothers. I realized I constantly was being drug tested, every weekend, even twice in one weekend. I was not allowed to leave the unit to go to outside meetings, or do anything other than go off the premises to look for a job, due to me being put on a, "probationary contract" within the first month I was here. My roommate, Mary- Beth Grimaldi was breaking all of the rules, meanwhile I was the one being written up for it, despite having cameras, they refused to play back to footage to prove it wasn't me doing what they were writing me up for. The day I was offered a job, was the day after she left, and the day I was discharged back to the street, without any option to stay accounted for by anyone. I watched numerous women be put back on the street who didn't break any rules, and I watched as this place LIBERTAE catered to certain minorities, and didn't 't help the mothers there voluntarily. Also, the staff discriminates towards the younger women who are here. They were really unhelpful with any questions, or needs they dragged their feet, and picked favorites to let break the rules right in front of the cameras. Yet, wouldn't review footage when asked.

I've never been to a halfway house before and the best way to disappoint yourself is to have an expectation. While on the phone with the intake coordinator I was told many things. And even though my gut told me I did… not want to come here. Because of my new found Love for sobriety in my attitude of gratitude I packed up my things and came down to Bensalem. The very moment I got into the building and I got on their spotty Wi-Fi I was on my phone researching different halfway houses and it took me about 2 and 1/2 weeks to go through the process of a transfer. Which included transferring my insurance because the only reason I got stuck here in the first place was the choices that Magellan has to offer. Don't let anybody tell you that you can't transfer it can absolutely be done and there are also several grants available. I don't have the ability to speak for all the counselors but mine seems extremely uninterested in me and sort of rude with interactions. My case manager is friendly and nice enough. But I get the vibe that when it comes to getting shit done. Like the things that I was told on the phone that I would be able to accomplish while here. It pretty much all comes down to you doing it yourself. Which I'm sure gives you a great feeling of accomplishment if you're able to successfully do that.. however, they make it almost impossible there is a form for every single thing you have to do and you have to turn that in days prior to wanting to do it ..it is impossible to get to outside meetings to network.. there are meetings within walking distance however you are not allowed to walk there.. the groups that they have throughout the day are loosely about self-esteem and relapse prevention and most of the day we are sitting in a room just bitching to each other with miserable faces or trying to sleep standing up, because God forbid you just let us go to our rooms and do what we need to do when there are not group activities or counseling taking place. THE VIBE IS DEPRESSED I've seen girls get kicked out that needed to be here and I've seen women with children eating like cows and being extremely rude and disrespectful and seemingly using the system for a free place to stay and feed their kids.. CareerLink did come last week and I got a few things out of that. However they do not help you with rides anywhere so if you can't figure out the 3 1/2 hour bus route and you don't have the financial ability to take an Uber or sober supports in the area you're pretty much screwed. The techa here are nothing like those friendly techs that you had at the rehab you're probably coming from.. most of them are addicts just like us except they treat you like you're an inconvenience.. I appreciate the people that take their time to bring in the h&i meetings I do wish however that they would be longer speakers with relatable stories that take up the whole hour because the final 15 minutes is basically just girls sharing their clean time. And clapping like seals..There is not a whole lot of fire for Recovery here which is important to have along with sobriety otherwise like me you just lose your steam and your mind at the same time.. I would say there's maybe three or four girls out of 50 that actually have employment . The rest is just mainly rules that don't make sense and community issues that the staff could give a whoot about.. which is clear at our weekly Sunday meetings. If you're thinking of coming here, don't ..do your research and go somewhere else!

this place is absolutely horrible i’m in here now if i came in this place and knew how bad it is i would’ve got transferred, not only that but they throw all your items in the trash and your not aloud to bring coffee in… and candy and they throw out all your items that you bring and can’t have out when they should keep your items for when u discharge they never have enough coffee for everyone in the morning and when people bring coffee in they throw it out …..i’m never coming back here or recommend anyone it’s worse then rehab and nothing like a halfway house … NEVER AGAiN !!!! and i forgot to say that whatever clothes donations they get or when people leave their clothes and all there stuff they throw all of it out when theirs people here that can use it and have nothing .. i got nothing or any progress from this place , the community makes me uncomfortable since i got here

Libertae has your back when no one else does. That says everything. When the world gave up on me — when I felt like I had nothing left — Libertae didn’t turn away. They stood with me, they lifted me, and they showed me… how to rebuild my strength and confidence from the ground up. They didn’t just help me survive — they showed me how to live again.. Libertae showed me how to be a woman in recovery — and how to be a mother again. Not a perfect one, but a present one. A grounded one. One with hope. To Nancy, Kinesha, Jessica, Maureen, Bobby, Jen, Alyssa, Ana (and more)— thank you for seeing something in me when I couldn’t see it myself.Truly. #TheyHadMyBack #LibertaeStrong #HealingIsReal #FromTornToWhole

It was years ago but I had a great experience here. Love the support I received from this place!

I have a year clean now, I went from being homeless and hopeless.. it took alot of work and it's really what you put into it. I love this place. Saved my life.

I haven't been here in 11/12years an it's definitely a bootcamp type of experience, also an experience in hindsight. GREAT! Aftercare I hoped it wouldve been better. But I Appreciate the whole team that was working back… then..

just terrible!!!

Treatment techs do not have educational training at all! or respect for the clients in the facility they consistently violate HIPPA and confidentiality, they talk negatively about the girls they're supposed to be… helping. One of the techs is missing her front teeth and is a poor resprentation of recovery bc do they still do drugs or does the company not provide basic dental care either way this company is a huge FAIL.

I had a very bad experience with my stay at libertae I was told it was a 6 month program but when I got here it was only 3 months and they care more about punishing u for chores then focusing on your recovery they have… no 12 step meetings here there is an evil person named Barb that works here she is supposed to be a nurse and she treats us like scumbags she has no bed side manners and the CEO Nancy only cares about money you are left to find your own place after here your supposed to be able to come here and recover help with your recovery they lock us out the fire exits and if u want to stay clean do not come here they charge your insurance company for all kinds of things that they don't even do and the tech Taylor sits in the office and smokes vapes

Libertae is the worst place I've ever been. They do not help you with anything at all and the staff are all rude and disrespectful. Not to mention I've seen individuals get kicked out for virtually no reason at all.… They have no problem leaving pregnant women and children with no place to go. It's all about the money. I'm mad that I even have to give them one star.

Worst Place EVER! Nancy Wolff is a selfish non caring fire happy POS.

Worse place I have ever been at. The whole business is corrupt. I've seen people get kicked out for absolutely nothing they say they are a place to help people grow, learn. All you are is another number and payment in… would never recomend this place to anyone. Staff is completely unprofessional tell your business to other clients councilors are horrible could care less about you just the paycheck. Horrible place

This place saved my life. The staff is loving and supportive. Thay Council you on any you may be struggling with. They have an awesome program for children. They gave me what I needed to ne a responsible member of… society. I owe libertae my life.

I am giving this horrible house a 1 star review because there wasn't the option of zero or negative stars. Nursing is incompitent, the kitchen serves expired donated food, there are 4 women in a bedroom sized for one… and 3 bathrooms for 26 women, and there is nowhere quiet to go to get away or relax, make a phone call or do treatment work. If you plan on attending outside meetings look elsewhere, every once in a blue moon They will go to AA but you will be waiting close to an hour most times for your ride back. Unless you plan on working a minimum wage fast food you are out of luck for employment. There are so many restrictions it's near impossible, and the rules change daily sometimes. However if you can live off the 5 dollar weekly allowance they let you have you are good to go. I'm pretty sure hell has nicer days...at least they put on the heat there. If you want to stay sober do not come here. If you want to get high you are in luck, they just move you to the family house because apparently people who drop heroin bags on the floor should be near children. Do not believe any good things you hear about this place, I'm positive they pay people to go into rehabs to advertise lies. They will not help you find a job, they will not help you with housing and your mental health issues will worsen. I keep telling myself it's better than jail but I'm pretty sure I'm just lieing to myself.

Place is a joke I was just there honestly learned nothing but alot of parenting they barely show up for groups n they are never on the same page

Do not advertise for what you call social workers who do not have social work degrees Social workers have at least a bachelor's degree.

Im greatful for being in Libertae but the staff only tried to control every womans move and make something out of nothing.. Like who stole the cookie.. Instead of childhood trauma or the causes of the behavior.

I would give zero stars if possible. Rampant drug use, uncaring staff on power trips, brand new donations being thrown in the dumpster, rotten donated food...this place is a joke. Do not go here if you have kids, it's a… terrible environment for children AND adults. The staff doesn't actually care about the clients, they care about their own jobs and lives being easier and screw whoever gets in the way. I could go on for days, but in the end just stay away from here.

libertae gave me a place to go when i was pregnant with my baby girl and scared to bring a newborn into the environment i was living at not only have they showed me how to be a great mother but they also taught me how… to do that while being sober. libertae saved my life i will always be greaful fur libertae

The cook is horrible n they throw away some donations when a lot of us come here only with the clothes on our backs

Libertae. Is a great place gowever i finf it a little PREDJUICE AGAINST PEOPLE OVER 45 ..why is there a age limit on. When you need help to. Live life .again instead of. Existing ?? ..peop,e have problems at many poibts… in their life ..some of us just ..have to. Suffer longer then others before we realize there is a better way of living ..hopefully if some people with a little life relationship .work ..as well as addictions and co existing pdoblems get in we can show (or explain what we did wrong ..and maybe the younger woman can have a happy healthy life .without all the unnecessary pain ..come on .they laughed (literally when i told em ky Cousinz age is 41 ..wtmf good thing i didnt need em im 54

Libertae is saving my life.