The Allen Family Center: A community resource hub for families

The Allen Family Center in South Seattle

The Allen Family Center (AFC) is a one-stop-shop for assistance with housing, health, and child well being. Mary’s Place is one of five local community partners that provide services and resources at the AFC – assisting 669 families last year alone. The Center opened in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood in 2020, serving critical needs in South Seattle. It was made possible by a $30 million gift from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and funding from the City of Seattle. City funding supports the center’s ongoing administration and infrastructure needs.

The mission of the AFC is to meet families where they are with community-based services and support to strengthen families and prevent family homelessness. At the AFC, Mary’s Place assists families with social services’ navigation, housing assistance, health and job fairs, food and supply distribution, and financial literacy classes. The Mary's Place mobile outreach team works out of the AFC, helping unsheltered families get the resources they need and move into housing quickly.

The AFC is on the ground floor of the Gardner House apartments. Operated by Mercy Housing Northwest, Gardner House provides permanent, supportive housing. For families with young children, the AFC is home to both BrightSpark and Navos – community partners that are focused on ensuring children have opportunities in early learning, mental health care by licensed professionals, and childcare that meets their unique needs. Chief Seattle Club is onsite to assist with Rapid Rehousing for Indigenous families. As a collective, the five community partners at AFC are helping to build a welcoming community where all feel supported, and families can thrive.

“The Allen Family Center is a critical resource for families. As a centralized resources, families can overcome barriers to access services, gain stability, and even prevent homelessness. We are grateful for the City of Seattle’s funding of the center so that hundreds of families can find the support they need,” said Dominique Alex, Mary’s Place Chief Program Officer.

The AFC closed in March 2023 after a fire and water damage and reopened in September with a Block Party. King 5 covered the event!