500 women, children are cold and homeless in Seattle, but you can help

It’s already starting to get cold in Seattle. That icy chill that has you running from your car into your home each night. But what if you had nowhere to warm up? The reality is, more than 500 families sleep outside in Seattle every night, many of them women and children.

But if they’re lucky they’ll find shelter at Mary’s Place.

“I came to Mary’s place due to domestic violence, with my four sons,” says Zaneta Reid, who packed her bags in the middle of the night and ran.

Mary’s Place has four night shelters for women and children.

“We had to leave our home after testifying against my abuser and we couldn’t get into the domestic violence shelters because I have older sons. So Mary’s Place took us in and gave us shelter and the safety I needed to be able to move forward.”

At its day center, Mary’s Place serves 150 women and children every day.

“The connection to school, employment, housing, hot meals, medical care, showers, laundry, connection to phone and mail services, and groups to help deal with the grief and the pain and the loss of homelessness,” says executive director Marty Hartman.

Starting Thursday, and continuing through December 23, Mary’s Place is trying to raise $250,000 to open a new shelter this winter.

“It’s overwhelming to Mary’s Place to think that 500 families could be outside this winter with no safe place to come inside to get warm, to get meals, to get love and to get their children and themselves connected to resources,” Marty says. “It’s unacceptable to us but we believe it’s something that’s doable. That we can bring them inside.”

The goal of Mary’s Place is to find permanent housing for every woman and child. Zaneta and her boys now have their own place to call home.

“The thought of 500 families, just the thought of one family,” Zaneta says through tears. “Kids don’t deserve to sleep outside. I remember my son asking me each night, before we got into the shelter, where we were going to be. I couldn’t tell him. I don’t think families should have to worry about where their kids are going to sleep at night.”

Zaneta was so thankful for all that Mary’s Place gave her, she became a volunteer, and now she is a paid employee.

“I’m the housing coordinator so now I help find housing for the families. We get a lot of scared moms who have never been through this, just like I didn’t. I’m able to share a little bit of my experience and let them know this is just temporary and we’re going to work through it the best that we can.”

Marty says they have to turn away five to 20 families a day because they simply don’t have enough space.

To donate to Mary’s Place, click here.