EASE, Inc. was incorporated on April 10, 1995 as a non-profit Employment Assistance Service with the purpose of providing comprehensive workforce preparedness and employment opportunities for economically challenged populations such as dislocated workers, juvenile and adult offenders, substance abusers, homeless individuals/families, welfare recipients, displaced home-makers, the working poor, and at risk youth. EASE, Inc. applied for and received funding from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Partnership Advisory Board under the Federal Crime Prevention Act in December 1995 to set up and implement employment services for Intermediate Level Offenders at the then Durham County Day Reporting Center (now Durham County Criminal Justice Resource Center). On January 2, 1996, EASE Inc. moved into office space at 301 W. Main Street, Suite 470 in downtown Durham. Development of operational structure and the service delivery program took place during the initial three-month phase.