PRESS RELEASE 

For Immediate Release 

Link to Photos & Broadcast Quality Video

Contact: 

Erin Sogal, erin@trailblazecreative.com 

614-572-5197 

Beacon Communities and Project PLASE Break Ground on Beacon House Square 

Transformative Redevelopment of St. Joseph’s Monastery Brings New Permanent Supportive Housing for Unhoused People to Baltimore 

BALTIMORE, MD (May 1, 2025) – Beacon Communities and Project PLASE (People Lacking Ample Shelter and Employment) held a ceremonial groundbreaking for Beacon House Square, a transformative permanent supportive housing development located at 3601 Old Frederick Road in the Irvington neighborhood of Baltimore. Once the site of St. Joseph’s Monastery School, the 70,000-square-foot property will be reimagined as a trauma-informed residential community for individuals experiencing homelessness, veterans, and people with disabilities. More than 70 guests attended the event, including Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Robyne Chaconas, Deputy Secretary of CDA Programs, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, other state and city officials, and community stakeholders. The groundbreaking marks a major milestone in Baltimore’s commitment to housing with dignity.

The development will include 90 units in total – 56 permanent supportive housing units, managed by Beacon Communities, and 34 temporary units (most single occupancy with two dorm rooms for initial residency). Services for housing will be provided by Project PLASE. Designed as a hub for healing and community, this housing development also features a kitchen and food pantry, wellness clinic, counseling offices, and a free clothing closet. These spaces will support not only residents, but also the surrounding community. The permanent units – studio and one-bedroom apartments – will be subsidized with project-based vouchers and prioritized for veterans and other individuals referred through the Housing Authority of Baltimore City. Project PLASE will provide tailored wraparound services, including case management, health and wellness programs, educational and employment support, and family reunification assistance.

“The creation of new housing is a dream decades in the making,” said Mary C. Slicher, Executive Director of Project PLASE. “We’ve listened to those who are often left out of the conversation. Beacon House Square will be a home built on respect, healing, and the belief that everyone deserves stability and opportunity.”

“At Beacon House Square, we’re not just providing shelter – we’re helping individuals rebuild their lives, find hope and thrive, while breathing life into a beautiful historic property” said Dara Kovel, CEO of Beacon Communities. “Partnering with Project PLASE, funders and local leaders ensures this vision is grounded in compassion and a true understanding of our residents’ needs.”

Originally constructed as a school in 1892, the St. Joseph’s Monastery site had been vacant for two years before Project PLASE acquired it with the intent to preserve its structure and legacy while reactivating it for community benefit. This adaptive reuse effort reflects Baltimore’s growing commitment to revitalizing its historic fabric through affordable housing and sustainability.

The $45 million project is backed by a comprehensive funding model that underscores the power of collaboration in addressing homelessness and housing insecurity in Baltimore. The development is supported by a diverse blend of public and private resources, including a HUD First Mortgage, Tax Exempt Bonds, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits, and funding from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Additional public investment includes a Veteran’s Administration Grant, Maryland Legislature Capital Grant, and Maryland Department of Health Grant , as well as support from the City of Baltimore’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Housing Accelerator Fund, and Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services Generous private donations from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the Abell Foundation, the Home Depot Foundation, and other philanthropic partners further demonstrate the shared commitment to creating housing with dignity. 

With strong backing from state and city leaders – including State Senator Dalya Attar, Delegates Malcom Ruff, Antonio Hayes, Samuel I. Rosenberg, Baltimore City Council Representatives Zeke Cohen, Paris Gray and Phylicia Porter, and city housing officials – the project serves as a model for addressing chronic homelessness through innovative, resident-focused partnerships. 

Beacon House Square is expected to welcome residents in late 2026. 

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About Beacon Communities LLC  

Beacon Communities LLC is a privately owned real estate firm that develops, acquires, invests in, and manages a wide range of multi-family housing. Their portfolio includes affordable housing, market rate housing and mixed income-housing. Their developments range from new historic adaptive reuse, to the renovation of existing housing. They take on challenging developments and make them succeed. Their driving passion is to create well-designed, healthy homes that improve the quality of life of their residents and enhance the neighborhoods in which they are located. 

 About Project PLASE:  

Project PLASE For 50 years, Project PLASE, Inc. (People Lacking Ample Shelter and Employment) has been a cornerstone of Baltimore’s response to homelessness, providing housing, critical supportive services, and pathways to stability for the city’s most vulnerable residents. PLASE is a Baltimore-based nonprofit dedicated to providing housing and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Through advocacy and innovative programs, Project PLASE transforms lives by ensuring access to stable housing and vital resources..