Sean Penn's home and life in Haiti

It's hard to believe, but this is actor Sean Penn's home away from California: a three-bedroom house in Haiti he currently shares with 20 other people.

Sean Penn's mission to rebuild Haiti
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Sean Penn hold his Oscar for "Milk" — Getty Images

The story of how one of Hollywood's biggest talents ended up in a plywood cubicle begins in January 2010. Penn had recently won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Harvey Milk in the film "Milk." But for all his success, Penn's personal life was difficult. And that's when he saw the news of the earthquake in Haiti.

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Doctors in Haiti holding hacksaws to perform amputations following the earthquake — CBS News

Thousands were dead and thousands more were injured in the earthquake. There were reports of surgeries and amputations being done without pain medications. Hardware store hacksaws were being used to cut limbs from the injured.

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Sean Penn and his son Hopper — Getty Images

Penn's son, Hopper, had recently recovered from a terrible skateboarding accident. Penn remembered how pain medication helped his son cope with his injuries. So when he saw the "Civil War"-style medicine being practiced in Haiti, Penn was determined to help.

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Sean Penn's two-week mission has turned into three years and counting. — CBS News

Penn flew to Haiti with a plane filled with doctors and medicine and founded his Haitian relief organization he calls J/P HRO. it was supposed to be a two-week mission, but it's been three years now, and Penn's not leaving.

J/P HRO
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Sean Penn shows Charlie Rose hissecond home in Haiti — CBS News

Penn's housemates all work for J/P HRO, the relief organization the actor co-founded in 2010, after an earthquake devastated the impoverished island country.

J/P HRO
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Penn's housemates sleep in bunkbeds throughout the house. — CBS News

They sleep in bunks throughout the house.

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This is Penn's room, the size of a prison cell. He calls it "the palace."

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Penn's group has helped to relocate tens of thousands of people out of the tent camps. — CBS News

Down the street from Penn's house is a camp with thousands of tents still housing people displaced from the earthquake. Penn's group has helped to relocate tens of thousands of people out of the tent camps.

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Sean Penn shows Charlie Rose J/P HRO's first model house, built in a poor Port au Prince neighborhood which was wiped out by the earthquake. More home building is in the works.

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Sean Penn motions how high the rubble was before the cleanup — CBS News

Penn is stopped in Haiti all the time, but not because he is a celebrity. People here know him as the man who can give them a job. Penn's J/P HRO employs hundreds of Haitians to clear rubble from the streets, fix existing homes and build new ones. Here he shows Rose just how high the rubble was before the cleanup.

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A community center has emerged out of the rubble, thanks to J/P HRO.

Sean Penn's mission to rebuild Haiti
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Penn's organization has also built schools. This one in the tent camp has 400 pupils who otherwise would never have had a chance to get an education.

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Charlie Rose could tell Penn is most proud of his clinics, like this one in an impoverished neighborhood of Port au Prince.

Sean Penn's mission to rebuild Haiti
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"We started as seven American doctors and a tent," Penn says. Now they have 100 medical staff serving 8,000 people a month. — CBS News

"We started as seven American doctors and a tent," Penn says. Now they have around 100 medical staff, all Haitian, serving 8,000 people a month. All the services are free, provided by J/P HRO.

Sean Penn's mission to rebuild Haiti
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In recognition of all his work in Haiti, President Michel Martelli appointed Penn the first non-Haitian Ambassador at Large.

Sean Penn's mission to rebuild Haiti
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Penn keeps one white suit ready for official occasions.

Sean Penn's mission to rebuild Haiti
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Penn makes a plea for American companies to come to Haiti and invest in the country.

Sean Penn's mission to rebuild Haiti
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Penn's most visible project is working with the Haitian government to demolish the National Palace, a symbol of the old Haiti and of the devastation caused by the earthquake.

Sean Penn's mission to rebuild Haiti
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Penn hopes whatever is built to replace the National Palace will become a symbol of new beginnings for Haiti. — CBS News

When the rubble of thr National Palace is cleared, Penn hopes whatever is built to replace it will become a symbol of new beginnings for Haiti.

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Calling Haiti "a diamond in the rough," Penn feels inspired by the progress being made — CBS News

Sean Penn feels inspired when he sees all the progress made in Haiti. He calls the country "a diamond in the rough."

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Sean Penn presented with the American Red Cross International Humanitarian Service Award for his Haiti relief efforts

The American Red Cross presented Sean Penn with its International Humanitarian Service Award at a ceremony on Oct. 24, 2012. Penn was chosen because of his tireless work in Haiti since the catastrophic earthquake on Jan 12, 2010.

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