In a recent Mary’s Place Moment conversation, CEO Dominique Alex sat down with two people who play an essential role in one of our most joyful and transformative programs: Make-a-Home. She was joined by Olga Chinka, Make-a-Home Coordinator and Katie Bernson, a longtime volunteer partner with Coldstream Wealth Management. Their conversation offered a powerful look at how a furnished home can change the entire trajectory of a family leaving homelessness.

When Kelly arrived at Mary’s Place with her two young sons, Cole and Jayce, they had nothing but the clothes on their backs. Like many families fleeing domestic violence, Kelly had to leave everything behind — family photos, important documents, and her children’s favorite stuffed animals. That’s when a kind stranger told her about Mary’s Place, where she could find emergency shelter and housing resources for families experiencing homelessness.