Family Residences & Essential Enterprises, Inc.

What Family Residences & Essential Enterprises, Inc. does

Family Residences & Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit human services organization founded in 1977 and headquartered in Old Bethpage, New York. The organization delivers a comprehensive portfolio of community-based supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), mental illness, and traumatic brain injury (TBI), operating more than 150 residential and program locations across Long Island, Queens, New York City, and Baltimore, Maryland, and serving over 5,500 individuals. Service lines span three primary tracks — IDD services (housing, community support, crisis, day, employment, self-direction), Behavioral Health (outpatient clinic, mental health day programs such as PROS, crisis/hospital diversion, residential), and TBI Services (Medicaid waiver, service coordination, independent living skills, structured day program, nursing home transition) — supplemented by a performing arts division (Theater Group, Ensemble, Style Dancers, the world's first differently-abled Drum & Bugle Corps), vocational programs (FREEdom Gardens, FREE-POD delivery, Skills Unlimited), and advocacy initiatives.

The underlying technology stack is modest and operational rather than differentiated: a telemedicine platform for virtual medical access, Dayforce HCM for HR management, an Employee Portal for staff resources, and DonorPerfect for donation management. No proprietary AI, data platform, or productized software is disclosed, and there is no public API or SDK offering.

The business model is dominated by New York State Medicaid waiver funding channeled through three agencies — the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the Office of Mental Health (OMH), and the Department of Health (DOH) — supplemented by fee-for-service program revenue and charitable donations/grants. Recipients are referred primarily through these state agencies and partner organizations. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. FREE maintains wholly owned and jointly controlled affiliates including FREE of Maryland, Skills Unlimited, the Long Island Select Healthcare (LISH) joint venture with DDI and Life's WORC, and the 2023-launched Quality Resource Network, Inc., a separately governed entity created with DDI and Life's WORC to drive cross-agency collaboration and shared efficiencies. Leadership has been stable for decades under CEO Robert S. Budd (35 years) and President Dr. Christopher D. Long.

Name

Family Residences & Essential Enterprises, Inc.

Legal name

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.

Website

https://familyres.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

FREE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 providing comprehensive housing, behavioral health, employment, and community supports to over 5,500 individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness, and traumatic brain injuries across New York and Maryland, primarily funded through NY State Medicaid waivers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Old Bethpage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Medicaid Waivers: Funded through OPWDD (Office for People with Developmental Disabilities), OMH (Office of Mental Health), and DOH (Department of Health) Medicaid waiver programs for services to individuals with disabilities
2. Donations and Grants: Charitable donations from individuals, families, and corporate sponsors. Grants from foundations and government agencies for specific programs and initiatives.
3. Fee-for-Service Programs: Various programs and services provided to individuals and families including day services, residential services, employment services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FREE delivers person-centered human services to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness, and traumatic brain injuries through residential, day, employment, behavioral health, crisis, and community-integration programs funded primarily by New York State Medicaid waivers (OPWDD, OMH, DOH). It also operates performing arts (FREE Players Theater Group, Ensemble, Style Dancers, Drum & Bugle Corps) and vocational programs (FREEdom Gardens, FREE-POD, Return to Work) serving over 5,500 individuals across Long Island, Queens, NYC, and Maryland.

Product overview

Family Residences & Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit human services organization founded in 1977, headquartered in Old Bethpage, NY, providing comprehensive supports to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness, and traumatic brain injuries. The organization operates a diverse portfolio of programs organized around three core service tracks: Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Services (housing, community support, crisis services, day services, employment, self-direction), Behavioral Health Services (outpatient clinic, mental health day programs, residential services), and Traumatic Brain Injury Services (Medicaid waiver, service coordination, independent living skills). FREE also maintains a performing arts division featuring the FREE Players Theater Group, Ensemble, Style Dancers, and the world's first differently-abled Drum & Bugle Corps. The organization operates FREE of Maryland as a regional affiliate and is a founding member of Quality Resource Network, Inc. Together, these programs served over 5,500 individuals across Long Island, Queens, and New York City as of 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FREE Players: Performing arts programs including theater, ensemble, dance, and drum corps for individuals with disabilities
• FREE Players Drum & Bugle Corps
• FREE Players Theater Group
• FREE Players Ensemble
• FREE Style Dancers
• FREE of Maryland
• Quality Resource Network
• Center for Learning and Professional Development (CLPD)
• FREE-POD
• Long Island Select Healthcare (LISH)
• Skills Unlimited

Products and services

• Referral Services (OPWDD, OMH, DOH) Resource and referral service providing a central point of information to assist individuals in finding services that match their needs, wants, hopes, and dreams through OPWDD, OMH, and DOH programs. For individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness, or traumatic brain injuries and their families seeking entry into FREE's service array.
• Intellectual / Developmental Disabilities Services Comprehensive services including housing opportunities, community support, crisis services, day services, employment services, and self-direction for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For adults and children with IDD on Long Island, Queens, and NYC.
• Behavioral Health Services Integrated outpatient behavioral health services including Critical Time Intervention, Children's Services, Mental Health Day Programs (PROS), Employment, Mental Health Clinic, Crisis Services Hospital Diversion, and Residential Services. For adults and children with mental health conditions on Long Island.
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Services Services for individuals with traumatic brain injuries including Medicaid Waiver Program, Service Coordination, Independent Living Skills Training, Community Integration Counseling, Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support, Structured Day Program, and Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waiver Program. For adults with acquired TBI in the New York region.
• Success Community Care Clinic Free-standing integrated outpatient behavioral health clinic open to the public, serving individuals of all ages with mental health needs.
• FREE of Maryland Maryland affiliate providing Community Development Services, Housing Support Services, and Transportation Services to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Baltimore region.
• FREE Players Theater Group Broadway-caliber theater productions featuring individuals with disabilities, including Hairspray, Beauty and the Beast, Shrek, and Matilda: The Musical. For individuals with disabilities seeking performing arts engagement.
• FREE Players Ensemble Vocal singing group that performs at conferences, events, and community gatherings. Has logged over 100 performances, including the inaugural act at the opening of Nassau Coliseum.
• FREE Style Dancers Dance troupe providing opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to perform choreographed dance in recital performances.
• FREE Players Drum & Bugle Corps The first differently abled Drum & Bugle Corps/Marching Band in the world, with over 70 members ages 20 to 50+ performing across Drumline, Front Ensemble, Color Guard, and Brass sections.
• Return to Work Program Specialized vocational rehabilitation track within the Structured Day Program for individuals with acquired Traumatic Brain Injuries to obtain and maintain gainful employment, with partnerships including Terry's Cafe, Fancy FREE, FREEdom Farm, and clerical opportunities.
• FREEdom Gardens Agricultural vocational program providing individuals with disabilities job skills, self-esteem, and meaningful work experiences through gardening and produce cultivation.
• FREE-POD Food Delivery Service Food and supplies delivery service launched during the COVID-19 pandemic providing door-to-door delivery to homes and individuals, while serving as a job training opportunity for participants.
• Fine Art and Art Therapy Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Supporting over 5,500 individuals with disabilities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Quality Resource Network, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2023Partnership with Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI) and Life's WORC (WORC) to identify synergistic opportunities and achieve efficiencies of scale to improve outcomes for people supported by all three agencies. This new entity fosters collaboration and drives innovation to better meet the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, mental illness and traumatic brain injuries.
• Northwell HealthmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 August 2018Northwell Health sponsors the FREE Fresh Truck Mobile Market, a farmer's market on wheels providing food access to food insecure Long Islanders. Partnership includes ribbon cutting ceremony and ongoing sponsorship.
• Skills Unlimited, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate of Family Residences and Essential Enterprises providing employment and job training services. Partnership with Quiznos for employment program. Hosts mental health programs.
• Smile FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for FREEdom Gardens agricultural program providing job skills and produce for individuals with disabilities.
• Long Island Select Healthcare, Inc. (LISH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between FREE, DDI, and Life's WORC providing healthcare services to individuals with disabilities.
• Long Island Maritime MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration expanded in 2013 for community engagement and educational programs for individuals with disabilities.
• LENZ WineryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual art exhibition partnership showcasing artwork by artists with disabilities. Wine tasting dinners and ongoing support for fine art programs.
• Patchogue-Medford LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing art exhibitions of FREE artists at the library. Meet the Artists receptions celebrating individuals with autism and special needs.
• TRI (The Rehabilitation Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong Island business association partner receiving visits from state legislators to showcase disability employment programs.
• Stony Brook UniversitymajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducational partnership providing FREE employees with badges in Community Residence Leadership in Supervision. Skills development aligned with OPWDD core competencies.
• ACLD (Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for job expo for adults with disabilities, social media awareness campaigns, and collaborative advocacy efforts.
• Pronto of Long IslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity outreach center partnership serving vulnerable children and families. Social Impact Award recipient.
• Baldwin ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for fine arts program providing art therapy and exhibition opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FREEFamilyRes
• Facebookfacebook.com/FREEFamilyRes
• Instagraminstagram.com/freefamilyres

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Family Residences & Essential Enterprises, Inc.