why building love?
Building Love is more than a campaign—it’s an invitation to help build a more equitable community where all families and children can thrive.
With most of the funding secured for our new shelter and affordable housing campus in Burien, we’re now asking the community to help us raise the remaining dollars needed to bring this vision fully to life. Through donations, events, and community engagement, Building Love invites everyone to be part of something transformational.
Because this project isn’t just about construction. It’s about what we choose to build as a community.
When we talk about “building love,” we mean creating spaces rooted in dignity, safety, and belonging. We mean building a system that recognizes families deserve both immediate shelter in a crisis and a clear pathway to affordable, stable housing. We mean investing together in solutions that are innovative, equitable, and shaped by the voices of those most impacted, so that all families have the opportunity to thrive.
a new model to address family homelessness
On the site of our former family shelter in Burien, Mary’s Place is partnering with Mercy Housing Northwest to create a first-of-its-kind campus: a new family shelter co-located with permanently affordable housing.
When it opens in 2027, the campus will include:
200 beds of emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness
90 permanently affordable apartments
At least 30 of those units are reserved for families transitioning out of homelessness, creating a pathway from shelter into stable housing
This co-located model allows families to remain connected to their schools, jobs, and community while moving from crisis to long-term stability—without the disruption of relocating to an unfamiliar neighborhood and starting over.
from crisis to stability
Mary’s Place began serving families experiencing homelessness in the former hospital building in Burien in 2018, serving hundreds of families in crisis. Today, this redevelopment is transforming the site into a welcoming, inclusive campus designed with input from the community, staff, and lived experience.
The new shelter will provide private family rooms and access to wraparound services focused on education, health and wellness, housing stability, and economic empowerment:
Case managers who work with families to overcome barriers and return to housing as quickly as possible
On-site physical and behavioral health support and referrals to community partners
Trauma-informed youth services programming in Kids Club with homework help
Large dining spaces for gathering and culturally rich, healthy meals
The campus will also feature joyful, family-centered recreation spaces—including a mini soccer pitch and basketball half-court offering children and parents space to play, heal, and connect.
Across the courtyard, Mercy Housing Northwest is building 90 permanently affordable apartments, including larger 2–4-bedroom units, to address the critical shortage of family-sized housing in King County.
meeting an urgent need
More than 50 families call Mary’s Place each day seeking shelter, yet across King County, there may only be space for one or two each week. At the same time, affordable housing options remain out of reach for many working parents.
This innovative campus responds to both crises: providing immediate safety for families with children while providing long-term, affordable housing opportunities. This new campus is designed to serve as a replicable national model for addressing a growing urban crisis.
why community support matters
Thanks to generous funding partners and community leaders, we have raised the majority of the funds needed for this project. Now, the Building Love campaign calls on the broader community to help close the remaining gap to build our family shelter.
Every gift, every shared post, every conversation helps move this vision forward.
Because building love isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about building stability, opportunity, and a future where families don’t just survive homelessness—they move beyond it and thrive.
That’s why we’re Building Love. Join us!