from crisis to stability: jasmine’s story
The day Jasmine and her children were evicted is a moment she will never forget.
Sheriffs stood by as she packed whatever she could fit into her baby’s stroller—clothes, toys, diapers—while her young children clung to her side. They walked down the street with nowhere to go, no plan, and no idea what would happen next.
“I just remember my kids asking me, ‘Mommy, where are we going to go?’” she recalls. “It broke my heart. That’s when I knew I had to do something different.”
A Crisis Affecting Thousands of Families
Family homelessness in our region has reached an emergency level. Every day, our family intake line receives 50 to 70 calls from parents seeking shelter that very night. But with limited space and shelters across King County at capacity, we can only bring in one or two families each week.
Stories like Jasmine’s are far more common than most people realize.
“If people knew how many families in our community are experiencing homelessness—and how many children their own kids go to school with who are also experiencing homelessness—they’d be shocked,” says Mary’s Place Housing Director Hannah Miyagishima.
Mary’s Place uses an innovative three-pronged approach—emergency shelter, mobile outreach, and homelessness prevention—to address family homelessness. Still, the rising cost of living and the limited availability of family-sized affordable housing in King County continue to push more families into crisis.
Finding a Safe Place to Land
After calling shelter after shelter with no success, Jasmine finally got the news she desperately needed: Mary’s Place had an opening.
“I just remember how happy I was—‘Oh my gosh, we have somewhere to go.’”
That night, she and her children came inside to warmth, safety, and support.
“They gave us a place to stay. They helped me enroll my kids in school. They helped get my kids clothes, diapers—everything we needed.”
Healing Childhood Trauma Through Play, Stability, and Care
One of Jasmine’s biggest worries was how the instability was affecting her children. The trauma of homelessness weighs heavily on kids, often with long-term developmental and emotional impacts.
60% of those we serve at Mary’s Place are children—most of them under eight years old. That’s why Mary’s Place focuses deeply on reducing childhood trauma.
“Kids Club was amazing,” Jasmine says. “My kids loved going up there and playing.”
Kids Club offers a space for children to be children again—to learn, play, and feel joy, even while their families work through difficult transitions. It provides routine, stability, and emotional support when it’s needed most.
“Our Youth Services program is a really important part of our wraparound services because we know that the trauma children experience during homelessness can follow them into adulthood, often creating generational cycles of instability. When families come inside, Kids Club helps normalize being a kid despite everything going on,” says Mary’s Place CEO Dominique Alex.
A Path Toward Stability
Beyond shelter, Jasmine received support in rebuilding her life.
“Mary’s Place helped me get a job through resumé workshops and other career supports. It was such a relief knowing I’d be able to provide for my kids. Getting steady employment was a big step that I couldn’t have accomplished without being in the supportive shelter environment.”
She also received help paying off her past-due debt from a previous apartment—an essential step in securing new housing. Staff walked alongside her as she applied for apartments, completed paperwork, and prepared for the next chapter.
When Jasmine finally got her own place again, she felt hopeful—but also overwhelmed.
“When we got the apartment, I thought, ‘This is amazing, I’m grateful to have a place of our own, but how am I going to get all this furniture?’ That all costs money.”
Turning a House Into a Home
That’s where our Make-a-Home program stepped in.
Community volunteers furnished the family’s new space with beds, a couch, kitchen essentials, toys for the kids, and everything they need to settle in and thrive.
craft time for Jasmine’s kids at the kitchen table!
“Make-a-Home turned my empty apartment into a home,” Jasmine says. “The kids have their own beds. They have so many toys. It’s so nice to sit at the table with my kids and eat dinner. You don’t realize how nice that is until you don’t have it.”
A fully furnished, welcoming environment helps families feel secure—and sets the stage for long-term success. It’s a turning point for so many.
“Our space fits us perfectly now,” Jasmine shares. “It’s great. I’m so grateful for our couch that fits all five of us, movie nights, and everything Mary’s Place has done for us.”
“When families come to Mary’s Place, it’s their opportunity to start fresh,” says Dominique. “But we can’t do it alone, the crisis is too big. We need you—our neighbors need us working together to ensure that no child sleeps outside.”