Interseminarian-Project Place, Inc.

Project Place is working towards a future without homelessness or joblessness; providing the pathways to jobs, housing and hope in order to make meaningful change on an individual and societal level. Everyday we work with clients and alumni, each at different stages in life's journey, to support them in taking steps towards a future they can believe in. Referrals, resources, skill building programming, one-on-one case management - we work in a multitude of ways to help clients reach their personal and professional goals.

To accomplish our goals, we maintain several core values that guide our vision forward.

1. The human spirit is resilient. We recognize the courage it takes to walk through our doors and begin the process of transformative change. We believe in the motivation and strength of our clients.

2. We are a supportive community that seeks to meet each individual at their level and find the best path forward for them.

3. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity, to be shown respect, and to be supported in their steps to overcome adversity.

4. Success is achieved through the obtainment of work and the stability of having a home.

Project Place employs several strategies to ensure we are able to meet our goals. To realize a future free of homelessness and joblessness we strive to:

Maintain a workforce development program model that is relevant, in that it thoughtfully reflects current expectations of today’s local labor markets.

Deliver high quality programming that is effective, evidence-based, and outcome focused.

Provide long term individual support for two years beyond programming to encourage the sustainability of change and success.

Offer holistic support to clients, cultivating professional skills and personal growth equally, to build well-rounded graduates that will be able to achieve economic independence.

To maintain a workforce development program that is relevant and reflects the expectations of today's labor market, we work with organizations and employers in the area. We actively participate in collaborative efforts and initiatives to better the community. This keeps us informed of revisions and quality standards to make to our programming. We participate in the Coalition for Homeless Individuals, The Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, and the Housing Works Partnership (HWP) - led by Pine Street Inn. Some of our employer partners include the City of Boston Department of Public Works, Wayfair, Peapod/Stop & Shop, and UPS.

We utilize delivery models based on input from community organizations, employers, and nationally-recognized studies. This is to keep programming efficient and effective at accomplishing our goals. It's been consistently demonstrated that employment and stability of a home are key elements in preventing homelessness and recidivism. In April 2019, Project Place used the tool, Self-Assessment for Employment-Focused Reentry Programs: Measuring Fidelity to the Integrated Reentry and Employment Strategies Framework. The assessment was then reviewed by an external auditor. Project Place was found to rank as “robust” in its ability to deliver and manage an employment-focused reentry program. Dr. Mary Ellen Mastrorilli, Associate Professor for Criminal Justice and Chair ad interim for Applied Social Sciences at Boston University, said: “Overall, Project Place is an exemplary social services agency that is committed to providing the highest quality programs and services, delivered in a thoughtful, practical, and evidence-based manner.”

Speaking to effective programming, retention is a top priority that was kept in mind when designing our services. Case managers stay connected with clients for at least two years post program completion. In addition to retaining access to all of our programs and services, we track retention rates for housing and employment, ascertain if additional resources will be necessary to promote stability, and invite alumni to participate in enrichment workshops. Many graduates find a second home and family at Project Place, with many finding ways to give back to the Boston community and Project Place clients wherever they can.

To create well-rounded graduates, those who will succeed in personal and professional endeavors for years to come, we emphasize structure and skill building coupled with a supportive environment and the capacity for personal growth. Hard skills and soft skills go hand in hand as clients learn not just the skills, but the attitude that it takes to succeed. Confidence is built through completing assignments, milestone incentives, and other measurable signs of progress such as credentialing and regular feedback. Learning to communicate effectively, interview and sell your skills, and read and write at a proficient level also contribute to a higher sense of self worth.

We have accomplished many amazing things over the years, all due to our generous supporters and volunteers. Some key highlights:

- Achieved a consistent 6% recidivism rate in our Community Re-Entry for Women program, working inside the Suffolk County House of Correction to deliver pre-release services to women.

- Through industry training and credentialing have raised the average wage of our graduates to $14.23 p/hour.

- In the most recent physical year, 68% of our clients obtained jobs and 69% housing, meaning we were able to consistently provide graduates with both employment and housing opportunities.

- Across the board, 80% of our clients who were in permanent employment positions and/or housing placements were still in them one year later.

- We have continually had a 100+% return on societal investment. Meaning for every dollar invested in Project Place, our clients returned that dollar and more back to society after becoming economically independent (calculated through tax and rent contributions).

On a broader note, we have expanded our services over the years, from homeless and low-income adults, to specially tailored services for populations experiencing additional layers of barriers. Women, parents, veterans, those returning after a period of incarceration, those recovering from substance abuse. We have been able to grow our organization to include specific services to address the complex needs of many who have been vastly underserved and marginalized. We have started 3 social enterprise businesses that offer transitional employment to clients - helping them build resumes and references as well as filling in large work history gaps. Recognizing the need for higher skill levels, we have introduced advanced industry training that is complete with credentialing, giving our clients a competitive edge in the job market. With an increasing scope of operations and constant additions and revisions to our programming and services, we remain committed to delvering the same high quality services that we have been providing the Boston community for over 5 decades.

This fall marks the release of our new 5-year strategic plan. While we strive to continue scaling up our services each year, we have used board, partner, client, staff and alumni input to determine four key areas of growth we wish to focus on.

Goal #1: Create new structure for initial and ongoing client stabilization.
Goal #2: Enhance industry training and impart more credentials.
Goal #3: Further integrate and increase capacity in our social enterprises.
Goal #4: Replicate our evidence-based Reentry model in new communities.