What causes homelessness? It’s a question with no shortage of answers.

In a recent Mary’s Place Moments conversation, Mary’s Place CEO Dominique Alex sat down with Dr. Gregg Colburn, co-author of Homelessness Is a Housing Problem and associate professor at the University of Washington, to explore the bigger picture behind the homelessness crisis in our community.

For months, Jerome worked full time while he and his two children, Juston and Jemma, lived in their car in Kent. When Jerome finally found housing, one last barrier stood in the way: move-in costs. Mary’s Place Outreach team stepped in with flexible financial assistance to help close the gap.

Angela, her partner, and their five children had experienced housing instability and homelessness for several years, moving between temporary programs, hotels, tent communities, and their family vehicle when they came into the Allen Family Center.

Nancy was doing everything right to keep her family housed. As a single mom of four, she had worked hard to secure a housing voucher and move her family into an apartment. She thought the hardest part was behind her. But after moving in, the unexpected costs started piling up…

"We all need support in one way or another. Reaching out for help takes bravery and trust that good people will reach back. It feels good to be that hand that reaches back,” says Shree.

"At Mary's Place, the emergency family intake line rings 40 to 50 times every day from parents desperately searching for a safe place for their children to sleep. That is the true measure of need," said Mary's Place CEO Dominique Alex. Behind every number in this year's Point-in-Time Count is a child, and the trauma of losing a home follows them into their classrooms, their relationships, and their futures.

When a workplace injury put housing out of reach for Matt and his kids, the Mary’s Place mobile outreach team stepped in to help the family find an affordable apartment where they could focus on healing and rebuilding.

This Father's Day, Drondexic Darrington and his daughter, Shaniah, are celebrating something many families take for granted: spending the day together in a home of their own. Over the Father’s Day weekend, Drondexic sat down with Stephanie Stokes of The Seattle Times to share about his journey.

On May 13, hundreds of community members came together for Mary’s Place annual dream BIG luncheon to support families with children experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The afternoon was all about hope, resilience, and what’s possible when a community comes together around families facing crisis. 

Aram has volunteered more than 275 hours serving meals, in addition to helping with holiday events and jumping into Kids Club when needed. For him, it’s not just about showing up; it’s about connecting.