Love and Shelter

The story of Casa de Amor

By Harry Padilla Chinchilla

Casa de Amor is a shelter for homeless people with various substance abuse disorders, vulnerability, and extreme poverty. It is run by Jimmy Vargas Fernández with the help of several volunteers and program leaders. Its survival depends, in part, on the support of churches such as Casa de Pan, Beach Church Manuel Antonio, Horizonte Church in Jacó, and Quepos Ministries Inc., as well as community supporters, such as Campo Ferial and Máximo Nivel.

Casa de Amor was founded in 2006 by the Quepos Humanitarian Efforts Association, the Catholic Church, and other local organizations in response to the crisis at the Quepos Old Cemetery, where there was a large population of people with substance abuse disorders of various nationalities. Jimmy was working for the Maná Program in San José when they received a call from Kim Stewart and the Quepos Humanitarian Efforts Association with the mission to open a program. They were looking for someone to lead the new program. Jimmy accepted the job, got to know the area, and fell in love with it. Casa de Amor was originally located in the El Tajo neighborhood until four years ago, when a natural disaster forced them to relocate 28 residents. It was a challenge due to the characteristics of the people they served. However, they successfully relocated to MoralesStreet, to the Hogares Crea building, which had been abandoned for eight years and had become a drug-busting facility. With donations and help from friends, they paid the utilities. At that time, they made repairs to the building, which they continue to do today, renting them to Hogares Crea. In early June, Hogares Crea closed its operations in Costa Rica, leaving 120 residents receiving therapy stranded and forcing them to relocate to Casa de Amor and other sister institutions. Fourteen such centers have closed in the last five years.

The Casa De Amor Program

According to Jimmy, the process is as follows: “We typically receive homeless people with substance abuse disorders, vulnerability, and extreme poverty. The program lasts six months and is divided into three stages. First: detoxification; generally, the person comes from the streets with drug addiction problems. We begin with group therapy and counseling, as well as housing, food, and clothing. The intermediate stage: medical care, pharmacology, care at the C.A.I. (Comprehensive Care Center, Ministry of Health), EBAIS Health Center (Basic Comprehensive Health Care Teams), etc. In the final stage, after the fourth month, we help them with a life plan; they go out to look for work, even if they live in the center.”

The Casa de Amor population is male, over 18 years of age. Priority is given to people from Quepos, but there are also people from Parrita, Jacó, Puntarenas, Uvita, and Pérez Zeledón. A man from Limón recently arrived, a troubled man in the Quepos area, and after being released from prison, came to the Casa to begin the program. Most come with a personal desire for change: a roof over their heads, food, clothing, and a bed to sleep in. Jimmy emphasizes that the program's focus will always be on the individual and their needs, and that this varies slightly from person to person. 

When a man seeks to attend the program, an intake interview allows Jimmy to determine the type of help they need. Some come only for outpatient therapy shared with the group.“Once a Casa resident has been in the program for four or five months, they can become a field leader,” Jimmy explains. “If 

they demonstrate the skills and characteristics [of a leader], I personally train them to help us with the other program residents and complete their therapy hours. An operator is someone who completes the program, takes courses  at the IAFA, and can participate in a similar program elsewhere. At Casa de Amor, we also have an NA (Narcotics Anonymous) group and rely on the community NA group.  We rely on whatever state health services we can manage.”

Jimmy's story

Jimmy recounted his story and how he became interested in this work. “In San José, after personally experiencing a substance abuse problem, I arrived at the Maná program. At that time, I was welcomed by Alejandro Marín. I followed the program and, as a result, managed to reconcile with my family. I graduated in 2001. Through the same Maná program, I was allowed to train and study. I am a beneficiary of these programs, and that's why I firmly believe in this process. It drove me personally to create and develop myself.” And that's why he insists on maintaining the shelter with equality and family unity. “The fact that we are all equals leads us to promote a greater conviction of recovery,” Jimmy explains. “This is my motivation: that all those admitted have the opportunity to be heard, cared for, evaluated, and receive the best possible guidance. No one is forced to cut their hair, there are no confrontational therapies. Always with an emphasis on human rights. Always avoiding stigmatization.” From Jimmy's perspective and experience, not all drug users commit crimes, nor do all criminals use drugs. He is fully aware of the stigma associated with the homeless. "We do work for the community free of charge, work that no one wants to do, and we do it without the help of the local government."

"Health is everyone's business. Society wants to eliminate the homeless person who smells bad, regardless of their background, the person who lost control of their life due to drug dependence, due to physical and emotional exhaustion, who ended up being a stranger, but without losing their humanity. When someone starts from scratch, they are a human being who gives themselves a chance. And if they end up making a mistake, it's part of the recovery process. For me, if you manage to get ahead and the other residents of the shelter are fighting back, it's worth the effort."

Understanding not Judgement

Currently, this type of plan/project doesn't have much support. The center's financial situation is adverse, especially since December. Education is crucial to foster understanding that this is a disease; However, Jimmy says that many people view substance abuse disorders and homelessness as a sign of weakness and a lack of willpower. Jimmy tells us: “If someone goes through a detox process, completing the six-month program, only to relapse a few days later, for an investor, it's a waste of time. For me, it's part of the process, the personal transition. Casa de Amor supports its residents through their illness. We're not inventing a silver bullet, nor are we claiming this will cure or save. We're saying, 'This is the way, comrade! We're the closest thing to a traveling companion; this plan worked for me, let me be your example.'”

There are many success stories. Several people have passed through the center, completed the program, and are now integrated into the community: as tour guides, kitchen staff, etc. There's one case of an American who arrived undocumented, as a homeless person, from Jacó. He dealt with the entire process for a year. He received comprehensive support: clothing, shoes, food, and his immigration status. Today, this person works on a project similar to ours, from a church, helping people experiencing homelessness.

Casa de Amor accepts donations of all kinds. Please contact them at:

Quepos Ministries Inc. via PayPal. Or directly at the Casa de Amor location, on Calle Morales, Paquita, Quepos.