Jamie S., a resident at Auberle Home in McKeesport, recently learned a valuable lesson about the price of freedom.

He and 11 other young men, the first residents of Auberle's new Community Based Living Facility, found that with freedom comes much responsibility.

Auberle houses children who are juvenile offenders or those who have been removed from their families because of abuse or abandonment.

In the new $2 million building, dedicated April 25, each young man gets his own room and has far fewer restrictions than in the main Auberle building.

But each also does his own cooking, laundry and cleaning.

The young men are enrolled in Auberle's Group Oriented Adolescent Living program, called GOAL, which is geared to get them ready for life on their own by teaching social and practical skills that are needed for an independent life.

They are either attending school or working -- or both, in some cases -- and preparing for their futures by learning about living on budgets, balancing checkbooks and running a household. They also learn to drive.

They can stay in the program until age 21.

"The whole point of this program is to give them the skills to move out on their own, to teach them to live within a budget and find a place they can afford," said Kyle Harder, supervisor of central intake at Auberle.

Even though there was a lot of excitement about moving into the new building two weeks ago, Jamie said some young men in the program were hesitant because of the extra work involved. But not Jamie.

"You've got to do everything on your own, but I like it," he said. "I already knew how to do laundry."

The new center is a single-story building adjacent to the main Auberle building on Hartman Street in McKeesport. The 12 young men living there were already enrolled in the GOAL program at the main building.

They got the chance to help in the planning of their new residence and were able to choose the color and decor schemes for the facility, Mr. Harder said.

Other residents will be added as they qualify for the program, Mr. Harder said.

Each side of the building has a dorm-like wing that holds 12 individual rooms and two bathrooms. Residents in the main Auberle building can have as many as three roommates.

Jamie said that's one of the best things about being in the new building.

"You don't have to worry about someone being dirty or taking your stuff," Jamie said.

All young men in the program are required to keep their rooms and the bathrooms clean.

Jamie, who attends McKeesport Area High School, is hoping to go to trade school or do an apprenticeship program while living at the facility.

In the center of the building, near the entrance, is the common area, which includes a room similar to a family room with couches and a large-screen television.

Also nearby are the dining area and the kitchen, where the young men prepare their own meals. Each wing has a budget for food, and residents plan and prepare meals. There are two full sets of kitchen appliances, so each wing has its own work space.

The new building also holds a computer lab with 12 state-of-the-art desktop computers. The lab is available for residents to do their homework and to conduct job searches. It's also available to residents of the main Auberle building.

The new facility also has a game room with pool and Foosball tables and video games.

The GOAL program has operated at 100 percent capacity with its limit of 12, Auberle Chief Executive Officer John Patrick Lydon told the audience that gathered for the building dedication April 25. The new building will allow Auberle to double the program's capacity.

This summer, residents of the new facility will build a sidewalk from it to the main Auberle building, Mr. Lydon said. He said the project not only will teach them about laying cement, but about teamwork.

During his address at the dedication, Mr. Lydon thanked Massaro Corp., which he said brought the project in "on time and under budget." Massaro, he said, donated some services during the project.

The dedication crowd drew some heavy hitters, including Bishop David Zubik, of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, who blessed the building; county Chief Executive Dan Onorato; and state Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, who was able to get $400,000 in state money directed to the project.

Another major grant of $500,000 came from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.