"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. 

Why is homelessness so much more prevalent in some areas, including Seattle and King County, than others?

Mary’s Place CEO, Dominique Alex, sat down for a conversation with Gregg Colburn, Assistant Professor of Real Estate at the University of Washington and co-author of the book Homelessness Is a Housing Problem, to unpack how and why the homelessness crisis has become so overwhelming in King County.

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.

After escaping domestic violence and losing their home, Justine and her children, Luna and Alex, were living in their car. When she connected with the Mary’s Place outreach team at the Allen Family Center, Justine received essential supplies and support, while her children found space to play and just be kids—leaving her with renewed hope and a community by her side. 

For Ruby, supporting families at Mary’s Place has been part of her life for as long as she can remember. With a mom who works at Mary’s Place, Ruby grew up volunteering at events and seeing firsthand the impact the organization has on families experiencing homelessness. So when she learned about the Youth Action Program (YAP), she knew it was something she wanted to be part of.

The earliest years of a child’s life lay the foundation for everything that follows—but for hundreds of thousands of young children experiencing homelessness, that foundation is shaped by instability, stress, and limited access to critical supports. A recent article in Beyond Housing Magazine delves into what happens when young children experiencing homelessness don’t have access to early childhood education and what Mary’s Place is doing to serve children during critical developmental years.

We’re grateful to Stephannie Stokes and The Seattle Times for helping shine a much-needed light on family homelessness in King County in a recent story.