Project Place

CONTACT:

1145 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
617-262-3740
www.projectplace.org

Suzanne Kenney, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

Project Place (PP), in Boston's South End, is winning its own fight against homelessness and chronic poverty for over 500 clients each year. It offers a variety of work opportunities: Project Pepsi, a vending machine service business; Clean Corners... Bright Hopes, a facilities maintenance business; Project 90, a work program with classroom instruction in job readiness skills for those with little or no work experience; an adult education program that offers pre-GED preparation; Betty's Place, providing transitional housing to women moving from the emergency shelter system to independent living; and career services and computer training. New programs include expansion into the food service industry through HomePlate, a business offering wholesome, homemade foods; Mellon ACTS, an intensive customer training service program and GATEHOUSE, the building of a new facility in the South End that will provide new training and office space for Project Place and 14 affordable housing units. PP began in 1967 as a safe haven for runaway and drug-addicted teenagers, and gradually shifted its focus to homeless adults, accomodating changes in Boston's neediest population. At the heart of these programs are the men and women who are facing huge challenges in their struggles for stability —repaying substantial debts; overcoming addictions and other health problems; regaining custody of children; finding safe, affordable places to live; finding employment; and completing basic education. Project Place is not just a guide to solving those problems, but the solution itself. It makes differences. You can, too, by supporting it now.

(1998: HUMAN SERVICES: Well-Being)