history

1974

Project PLASE was formed by four university students to remedy the absence of housing and resources available to Baltimore’s homeless citizens.

1973	Walk-In Center opens to serve homeless citizens
1974	Organization is officially incorporated as Project PLASE, Inc (People Lacking Ample Shelter & Employment)
1977	PLASE receives Campaign for Human Development funding, including the first national-level funding to the Baltimore area
1977-1985	Employment training program launched for special needs homeless citizens PLASE actively works on issues of de-institutionalization, both on a policy level as well creating special programs for this population, including being the first Fountain House Model Day program in the area
1978	First transitional housing facility opens (201 E. North Avenue)
1979	Apartments for de-institutionalized homeless men and women open
1984	PLASE begins to actively address the needs of homeless citizens with HIV/AIDS
1985	PLASE opens two more transitional housing facilities (139 E. North Avenue and 2031 St. Paul Street) PLASE begins working actively to address an emerging female population among the homeless in Baltimore. This includes being an initiator of the Women’s Housing Coalition and creator of the Model Shelter Bill with Delegate Anne Perkins
1985	Permanent Housing opens for homeless citizens with disabilities
1987	PLASE creates a department of case managers/outreach counselors to work on stability in permanent housing
1999	Nursing services are created on site and incorporated into our services
2001	1814 Maryland Avenue opens as a site for transitional and permanent housing for medically fragile homeless citizens
2005	PLASE receives Maryland Nonprofit’s ‘Standards of Excellence’ Incorporates mental health services on site at PLASE
2009	PLASE turns 35! PLASE expands 1814 Maryland Avenue site to include transitional housing for Veterans PLASE begins providing GED tutoring for women