The Main Place started as a grass roots organization in 2006, opened its doors in December 2009, and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity in January 2012 operated solely by volunteers.
In 2006, Founder Sharon Johnston became a community activist after learning that approximately 1000 IISD students, pre-K through 12, are identified during the school year as homeless. Many of the teens are unaccompanied youth without a safe and secure home base. Only 1 out of 4 graduates. One out of three homeless teens and pre-teens will be drawn into human trafficking within the first 48 hours.
Over the years, as we have learned more about homelessness within our community, our mission evolved from focusing on homeless teens in school and expanded to include their babies, siblings, parents, and even grandparents. Additionally, we serve victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, fire, flood, hurricanes and other tragedies which make them at risk for homelessness.
