Today, as family homelessness in King County is at crisis levels, homelessness prevention has emerged as one of the most urgent and impactful tools to protect families and their futures. We know that there is no safe level of homelessness for children—that’s why we’re investing deeply in prevention—because keeping families in their hard-won homes is one of the most powerful and cost-efficient ways to end homelessness.

“If you told me a few years ago that I’d be living in a three-bedroom apartment with my three kids, thriving in my preschool teaching career, and excitedly planning our first vacation with just the four of us, I never would’ve believed you…”

"What drives me every day is seeing the immediate difference a furnished home makes," explains John, owner of Happy Haulers. "These families transitioning out of homelessness have fought so hard for housing—they deserve to sleep in beds, not on floors. We're delivering dignity and a foundation for their new beginning.”

New self-service digital kiosks at Mary’s Place are improving the shelter experience for guests and staff! Thanks to funding from Comcast, these kiosks are helping families access shelter resources quickly and equitably and are giving guests confidence with digital tools that support their path to stability and permanent housing.

Erica never considered herself homeless - she always found a place to stay whether it be with family or friends. When Erica became pregnant with her second child, friends and family could no longer provide the space she needed, and Erica found herself on a three year journey to find affordable housing, experiencing homelessness along the way. But, with the help of Mary’s Place, Erica and her children are now in a safe, stable apartment and thriving in their new space!

For Jada, life used to mean just getting through the day—barely surviving, not truly living. That all changed when she reached out to Mary’s Place…

“I work at the food bank, and it’s a step towards housing, but I needed help managing my finances so I can remain stable when I leave Mary’s Place. The classes were really helpful with getting my finances in order.”

“I never thought I would end up homeless. What happened to me was the furthest thing from my mind. I had a successful military career, I’m an Iraq veteran. The staff at Mary’s Place were so caring, I always tell them they gave me my life back.” - Paula

Keisha and her young daughters, Zara and Imani, arrived at Mary’s Place carrying only what fit in their backpacks, they had fled an abusive situation at a moment’s notice…

When the apartment she was renting became unsafe due to black mold, Kawana and her sons were left with no place to go. After two years of living out of her car, apart from her sons, Kawana became stably housed with support from Mary’s Place and is now an advocate for affordable housing.