Jaclyn and Tyler get a fresh start for back-to-school

For weeks, Jaclyn and her son, Tyler, had been experiencing homelessness. The summer heat made every day unbearable - there was no escape from the sun, no cool place to rest, and no stability.

When she reached out to Mary’s Place, she was connected with one of our outreach specialists — someone who walked alongside her with patience, optimism, and unwavering support.

Together, they set out to find a safe, stable home where Jaclyn, Tyler, and their two beloved dogs could finally rest. The journey wasn’t easy. Jaclyn lives with a disability, which sometimes makes navigating housing searches and applications a challenge. On top of that, she and Tyler love their dogs dearly, and finding an affordable, pet-friendly apartment that would also approve her application was proving to be a challenge.

Finally, after weeks of persistence, a door opened just in time for the start of the new school year! Jaclyn and Tyler found a pet-friendly apartment near Tyler’s school, ensuring he could go back to school with his classmates!

Tyler is loving his new kitchen table, where he can spread out and do homework, and his cool bedroom, where he can invite friends to hang out after school — and Jaclyn is proud to see her son thriving! 

The generosity and support of our community makes stories like Jaclyn and Tyler’s possible, but there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure every family has a safe, stable home.

In King County, about 46% of renter households are cost-burdened - paying more than 30% of their income on rent. The number becomes even more staggering among low-income households in King County, with 70% spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs. For these rent-burdened families, one unexpected expense, like a spike in grocery prices or an emergency medical bill, can disrupt their carefully allocated budget and leave them unable to keep their housing.

With your support, Mary’s Place is using an innovative three-pronged approach - shelter, outreach, and prevention - to end family homelessness, along with advocacy for policies that make housing, resources, and shelter space more equitable and accessible for families.