A Place Of Refuge
A Place of Refuge is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Transitional Stabilization Model, providing transitional housing, life skills, workforce readiness, and community integration services to youth aging out of foster care and women in transition across Southeast Michigan.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersDetroit, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What A Place Of Refuge does
A Place of Refuge (APOR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in Detroit in 2009 by Rhonda Barley, MSW, to address housing instability among youth aging out of the foster care system. It has since evolved under Executive Director Keri Roberts (since 2019) into a broader community development platform serving youth and women in transition across Southeast Michigan. Its core deliverable is the APOR Transitional Stabilization Model, a four-pillar framework integrating transitional housing, life skills development, workforce readiness, and community integration. The current operational footprint comprises four housing units (one active, three under renovation), the 16-year-old Birwood Community Garden, and the upcoming Birwood Family Park scheduled for Summer 2026; the organization also controls 20+ development lots for future housing and community space.
The organization reports 50+ individuals stabilized through its integrated services and 15+ years of continuous service, with no disclosed outcome metrics beyond these headline figures. Its core technology is the codified Transitional Stabilization Model rather than a software platform; the supporting technology stack is limited to a Stripe/Zelle-enabled donation platform and a website used for outreach and partnership inquiries. The fourth-pillar Community Integration work is delivered through on-the-ground civic engagement rather than through any digital product.
APOR's revenue model is entirely donation- and partnership-based, organized into four tiers: Community Supporter ($25-$249), Program Sponsor ($250-$2,499), Property Partner ($2,500-$24,999), and Development Partner ($25,000+). The Development Partner tier is explicitly structured to attract CDFI collaboration and multi-property capital, signaling a strategy to professionalize institutional funding alongside the traditional individual-donor base. There are no disclosed customers, contracts, or revenue figures, and distribution is exclusively direct service delivery within a single geographic market — Detroit and surrounding Southeast Michigan communities.
A Place Of Refuge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- A Place Of Refuge
- Legal name
- A Place of Refuge
- Website
- https://aplaceofrefugemi.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- A Place of Refuge is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Transitional Stabilization Model, providing transitional housing, life skills, workforce readiness, and community integration services to youth aging out of foster care and women in transition across Southeast Michigan.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
A Place Of Refuge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Transitional Housing and Community Development Services
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Other Community Housing Services (624229)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)
Keywords
Where A Place Of Refuge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Detroit
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
A Place Of Refuge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations from community supporters ranging from $25 to $249, supporting core program infrastructure and resident services. Recurring and one-time gifts processed through Stripe and Zelle.
- Program Sponsorship: Corporate or institutional partnerships at $250 to $2,499 supporting specific components of the Transitional Stabilization Model including workforce readiness, life skills development, and community integration.
- Property Partnership: Capital investments of $2,500 to $24,999 supporting housing development, property renovation, and expansion of neighborhood-based stabilization footprint.
- Development Partnership: Strategic investment partnerships of $25,000+ supporting multi-property development, CDFI collaboration, and scaling of the Transitional Stabilization Model for long-term neighborhood transformation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Community Supporter ($25-$249) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Program Sponsor ($250-$2,499) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Property Partner ($2,500-$24,999) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Development Partner ($25,000+) |
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
A Place Of Refuge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A Place of Refuge operates a Transitional Stabilization Model comprising four integrated service pillars: transitional housing (4 units for youth aging out of foster care and women in transition), life skills development (financial literacy, conflict resolution, health and wellness), workforce readiness (resume building, interview prep, job placement), and community integration. The organization also develops community infrastructure including the Birwood Community Garden and the upcoming Birwood Family Park.
Product overview
A Place of Refuge is a nonprofit organization offering a unified Transitional Stabilization Model comprising four interconnected service pillars: Transitional Housing (4 units for youth and women in transition), Life Skills Development (financial literacy, health and wellness, independent living), Workforce Readiness (career pathways with employer partnerships), and Community Integration. The organization also develops community infrastructure including the Birwood Community Garden (16+ years established) and the upcoming Birwood Family Park (Summer 2026). A donation platform supports funding through Stripe and Zelle. This is not a technology platform but a place-based community development organization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Transitional Housing (APOR Housing Units)
- Life Skills Development
Quantifiable outcome
- 50+ individuals stabilized through housing stability and integrated support services
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use A Place Of Refuge
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
A Place Of Refuge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
A Place Of Refuge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights5 records
A Place Of Refuge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- YMCA of the USA: National nonprofit operating youth development, transitional housing, and community-based programs across the U.S. — broadly overlapping mission with less specialization in foster-care transition specifically.
- Salvation Army: Large national nonprofit operating transitional housing, emergency shelter, and workforce programs across many geographies — overlapping capability set but with broader, less-specialized mission scope.
- Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit network delivering workforce development, housing, and supportive services for vulnerable populations — adjacent model with overlapping workforce-readiness and supportive-housing pillars.
Direct peers
- Star House: Columbus, Ohio drop-in and transitional housing program for youth experiencing homelessness and instability, including those aging out of foster care — comparable mission and demographic.
- National Network for Youth: National advocacy and capacity-building network for organizations serving youth experiencing homelessness and aging out of foster care — peer ecosystem member addressing the same demographic.
- Covenant House: Largest privately funded nonprofit in the Americas providing shelter, transitional housing, and wraparound services for youth experiencing homelessness and aging out of foster care — directly comparable mission and population.
- Lighthouse Youth Services: Cincinnati-based nonprofit operating residential, transitional housing, and community-based programs for youth aging out of foster care and young adults experiencing homelessness — directly comparable service mix.
- National Safe Place: National network providing immediate safety and intervention for youth in crisis, including foster care transition populations — comparable target population and youth housing/wraparound focus.
- The Mockingbird Society: Washington-state nonprofit focused on improving outcomes for youth and families involved in the foster care system, including housing and transition support — directly comparable foster-care transition mission.
- Boys Hope Girls Hope: National nonprofit providing residential programming, educational support, and wraparound services for youth in need, including those aging out of foster care — closely aligned with APOR's integrated youth housing model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
A Place Of Refuge social profiles
Digital presenceA Place Of Refuge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
A Place Of Refuge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
A Place Of Refuge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
A Place Of Refuge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about A Place Of Refuge
What does A Place Of Refuge do?
A Place of Refuge operates a Transitional Stabilization Model comprising four integrated service pillars: transitional housing (4 units for youth aging out of foster care and women in transition), life skills development (financial literacy, conflict resolution, health and wellness), workforce readiness (resume building, interview prep, job placement), and community integration. The organization also develops community infrastructure including the Birwood Community Garden and the upcoming Birwood Family Park.
Is A Place Of Refuge a public or private company?
A Place Of Refuge is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was A Place Of Refuge founded?
A Place Of Refuge was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is A Place Of Refuge based?
A Place Of Refuge is headquartered in Detroit, United States, in the North America region.
How does A Place Of Refuge make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are program Sponsorship, property Partnership and development Partnership.
Who are A Place Of Refuge's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are YMCA of the USA, Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries International. Direct peers are Star House, National Network for Youth, Covenant House, Lighthouse Youth Services, National Safe Place, The Mockingbird Society and Boys Hope Girls Hope.
Does A Place Of Refuge have an API?
No public API is recorded for A Place Of Refuge.
What industry is A Place Of Refuge in?
A Place Of Refuge's product category is Transitional Housing and Community Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAO, Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.