History

In 1973 a group of concerned students formed Project PLASE, Inc. to address and remedy the absence of services and resources available to Baltimore's most needy citizens - the homeless and the poor. At that time, little was known, discussed or being done for homeless citizens.

PLASE began serving homeless people in a direct and concrete way in 1974 with the opening of its Walk-In Center. In 1976, through the Campaign of Human Development, PLASE received its first funding and the Director and Associate Director were hired. In 1978 the Transitional Housing Facility the first residential piece of the program was added along with the Employment Training component.

PLASE now serves approximately 350 homeless persons per year through its three transitional housing facilities and its four permanent housing units. Additionally, PLASE's Outreach Counselors work with approximately 175 people each year after they leave PLASE's shelters, to ensure clients' success. PLASE opened a new transitional and permanent housing facility in September 2001. This facility provides care for medically fragile homeless persons with HIV/AIDS. PLASE is now be able to serve 85 additional people annually.

In addition to these direct services, we include important advocacy systems in our work to address homelessness and poverty in the greater community, influence public policy, educate the public, etc. The focus of our advocacy and the development of our resources are determined by the needs of the population which, unfortunately, continues to grow and, consequently, to change.

Mary C. Slicher, PLASE's Executive Director, is one of the original founders.

DID YOU KNOW?

Approximately 3.5 million people, 1.35 million of them children, are likely to experience homelessness in a given year (Urban Institute 2000).

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