Celebrating 20 years, Joe's Place is an innovative idea born from a perpetual need in the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District (MRH). Every year, high school students in our district find themselves without a home due to serious family difficulties. To respond to this traumatic need, a community-wide collaboration of MRH, local churches, and volunteers formed Joe's Place, a 501(c)(3), in 2006. Soon after, the school district purchased a house, developed a program, and hired house parents. In 2007, the first group of students moved into the house and became a family with a purpose - to graduate high school. Our education and social service model was the first of its kind in the United States.
In 2019, a study by Washington University revealed that many of our graduates were at risk of becoming homeless again. To address this need, we significantly expanded our services by hiring a case manager to prepare graduates and support alums with college and career choices, housing, and mental health needs. In 2022, we modernized our mission and strategic plan to include nonbinary students and males struggling with gender identity.
This June, Joe's Place will celebrate its 20th anniversary! To be part of the celebration and learn more about our programs, send an email to joesplacestl@gmail.com or subscribe by visiting our website at www.joesplacestl.org.
Joe's Place offers unhoused students in the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District a caring home environment that supports them for high school graduation, self-sufficiency, and positive transitions into their adult lives.
Organization name
Joe's Place
Tax id (EIN)
27-0145524
Mission/Purpose
Education, Education - Higher Ed, Family Services/Child Welfare, Food Insecurity/Access, Hunger, Nutrition, Health & Wellness, Housing, Shelter, Homelessness
Operating Budget
Micro: $50,001 - $250,000
Service Area
St Louis County
Audiences Served
LGBTQIA+, Children, Youth, Families, Teens, BILPOC
Address
P.O. Box 434057