Summary
Organization name
The PLACE
other names
Urban Peak Colorado Springs
2000
Tax id (EIN)
84-1549702
Category
Housing & Shelter
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
423 E Cucharras StreetColorado Springs, CO 80903
El Paso County, CO, US
At The PLACE, we believe every young person deserves more than survival — they deserve belonging, opportunity, and a safe place to call home. As the only organization in the Pikes Peak region solely dedicated to youth experiencing homelessness, we meet young people where they are and walk beside them as they build stable, independent lives.
Your support fuels four life-changing programs that help make home possible:
Street Outreach – Our outreach team goes directly to where youth are sleeping or surviving, offering food, supplies, and a lifeline of trust that connects them to safety and services.
The Outreach Center – A warm, welcoming space where youth can shower, eat, rest, do laundry, and meet with caring staff who help them take the next step toward stability.
Housing Programs – From transitional homes to scattered-site apartments to our new 50-unit supportive housing community, The Launchpad, we provide safe, affordable housing that gives young people a foundation for success.
Case Management – Skilled, compassionate staff help youth set goals, access education, employment, healthcare, and life-skills training — empowering them to rebuild their lives and futures.
When you give to The PLACE, you’re not just funding programs — you’re helping youth write new stories of hope, stability, and belonging.
Mission
Mission: The PLACE ignites the potential in youth to exit homelessness and create self-determined fulfilled lives.
Vision: All Colorado youth have safe housing, supportive relationships, and the opportunity for self-sufficiency and success.
It is our ongoing priority that youth homelessness be rare, brief, and one-time.
Background Statement
The PLACE began in 1998, when Colorado Springs opened its first youth shelter under the umbrella of Urban Peak Denver. At the time, there were few safe options for young people experiencing homelessness in the Pikes Peak region. The new shelter provided a refuge — a warm bed, a hot meal, and, just as importantly, adults who cared.
As the years passed, it became clear that ending youth homelessness required more than emergency shelter. In the 2000s, The PLACE (then Urban Peak Colorado Springs) expanded with Street Outreach teams meeting youth where they were, and a Drop-In Center. These programs built trust and gave young people immediate safety nets.
By the 2010s, our services grew into a full continuum of care. Housing programs helped youth move from temporary shelter to permanent stability. Education and workforce initiatives gave young people the tools to succeed. Wraparound supports like counseling, life skills, and mentoring helped them build confidence and community.
In 2018, the Colorado Springs branch became an independent nonprofit and reintroduced itself as The PLACE. With a strong local identity and community-driven leadership, The PLACE could more directly respond to the needs of youth in our region while staying true to its mission.
Most recently, The PLACE made the difficult but forward-looking decision to close its shelter. While shelters provide immediate safety, decades of data and experience show that long-term housing, outreach, individualized wraparound services, education, and employment supports are more effective in helping young people exit homelessness for good. By refocusing our efforts on these evidence-based programs, we are investing in what truly changes lives and creates lasting stability.
Today, more than 25 years later, The PLACE has supported thousands of young people on their journey from homelessness to hope. Our programs — from housing and outreach to education and employment and individualize wraparound services — are built on one simple belief: every young person deserves safety, belonging, and the chance to thrive.
And while our team, programs, and name have evolved, our mission remains the same: to ignite the potential in youth to exit homelessness and create self-determined, fulfilled lives.
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Organization Data
Colorado Springs, CO 80903