a father's promise: how drondexic found a home for his family

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.

Drondexic Darrington, who recently moved into this apartment in Tacoma after experiencing homelessness in his car, is looking forward to this Father’s Day with his daughter Shaniah. (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)

Over the Father’s Day weekend, Drondexic sat down with Stephannie Stokes of The Seattle Times to share his journey and raise awareness of how easily a family can go from comfortable and thriving to facing homelessness, with one unexpected life event.

"[This Father’s Day], it's just us two at our own place," Drondexic recently shared with The Seattle Times. "So, this one's going to be a special one for us."

The road to that moment was long, painful, and filled with obstacles that would have overwhelmed many families.

Until recently, Drondexic, his daughter Shaniah, and his mother lived together in Tacoma in a home his mother had owned for over 20 years. The arrangement worked well for their family. Drondexic helped cover the mortgage and household expenses while raising his daughter alongside his mother.

Then everything changed.

His mother suffered a stroke, and the family's financial stability began to unravel. Despite Drondexic's efforts to keep up with expenses, they fell behind on mortgage payments and ultimately lost the house. His mother made the difficult decision to move back to Louisiana, and Drondexic and Shaniah stayed behind to stay connected to their community in Tacoma.

As they tried to navigate their next steps, Drondexic focused on maintaining steady employment and caring for his daughter. Shaniah stayed with relatives in Tacoma while he worked long shifts as a transit security guard in Seattle.

To save money and stay close to work, Drondexic began sleeping in his car.

"I had some tough nights in the car, where I would just cry," he said.

The arrangement was exhausting and isolating, but he remained focused on a single goal: creating a stable home where he and his daughter could be together again.

Then came another setback.

His car's engine failed. Not long afterward, the transmission went out as well, leaving the vehicle inoperable unless he could afford costly repairs. With nowhere else to turn, Drondexic moved in temporarily with his uncle.

Even with a full-time job, finding housing felt impossible.

Like many families across King County, Drondexic found himself caught between rising housing costs and financial barriers that made it difficult to move into an apartment. Poor credit, expensive car repairs, and high move-in fees stood between him and permanent housing. At the same time, he continued sending money to help cover Shaniah's food, clothing, and other necessities.

The emotional toll was often the hardest part.

Shaniah kept asking when they would have a home of their own.

"That was heartbreaking because I couldn't give it to her when she needed it," Drondexic said.

Eventually, Drondexic connected with Mary's Place Mobile Outreach team. Our outreach staff worked alongside him to navigate the housing process, identify resources, and overcome the barriers standing in the way of stability.

With support, he was able to find a two-bedroom apartment that was willing to accept his credit, and Mary’s Place covered his move-in expenses to ensure the family could begin building their next chapter together.

A childhood photo from around 2017 of Shaniah, who is now a teenager, with her father Drondexic Darrington. (Courtesy of Drondexic Darrington)

Today, the apartment is still sparsely furnished, and Drondexic continues to work toward long-term financial stability. But what matters most is that they’re together again.

For the first time in a long time, they have a place to come home to.

Their story is a powerful reminder that homelessness is often the result of circumstances beyond a family's control—a medical crisis, the loss of a home, unexpected expenses, or a series of setbacks that quickly compound. It is also a testament to the resilience, determination, and love we see in the families we serve every day. When families receive the right support at the right time, they can overcome tremendous obstacles and build a path toward stability. Stories like Drondexic's remind us why our work and the support of our community are so important.

Every family deserves the chance to stay together. Every child deserves a safe place to sleep. Every parent deserves the opportunity to build a stable future for their family.

Drondexic and Shaniah spent this Father’s Day creating new memories in a place they can call their own. Their journey reflects the heart of our work: helping families move beyond crisis so they can feel safe, secure, and supported as they build the future they deserve.

This Father’s Day, we’re grateful to Stephannie Stokes and The Seattle Times for helping shine a light on the realities of the often-overlooked family homelessness crisis and how our community can help families like Drondexic and Shaniah.