The number of homeless people in Seattle and King County continues to rise, with more than 4,000 people sleeping on the streets in a recent count. Mary’s Place in Seattle—which provides services for homeless women, children, and families—has been chosen for the MLA ’17 service project.
The mission of Mary’s Place is “Empowering homeless women, children and families to reclaim their lives by providing shelter, nourishment, resources, healing and hope in a safe community.”
Mary’s Place, with a variety of local sponsors and funders, was founded in 1999 in response to the lack of a complete resource center for women. The programs were begun with input from homeless women, who, together with the organization, developed the structure still being used today: two meals a day, hygiene facilities, showers, laundry, medical care, support groups, and ample resources for housing, employment, and benefits.
Mary’s Place now operates two day centers and six emergency night shelters, and offers the following services: two hot meals per day; Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous meetings; clothing distribution; community service site; Empower U internship program; housing and employment resources; hygiene, shower, and laundry service; medical care; resource referrals; shelter referrals; support groups for domestic violence, seeking safety, and treatment options and referral; volunteer services; young professionals group; YWCA health access program; homeless women’s choir; jail and hospital visitation; Women in Black; and Saturday church service.
Monetary donations can be made via a website, and items of need from their wish list will be collected at the Hospitality Center during MLA ’17.
