Mary's Place’s Post

The lack of affordable housing for families is one of the biggest drivers of family homelessness. Nearly half of renter households in King County are rent-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing. For most of these families, one unexpected expense, illness, job loss, or rent increase can push them into homelessness. Kiya and her son know that struggle firsthand. After their rent increased beyond what she could afford, they lost the apartment they had called home for over two years. They left in good standing, without an eviction or debt, but they had nowhere to go. They spent nights couch surfing until it became unsafe, then moved into their car. Recently, they see light at the end of the tunnel. Kiya landed a new job with a higher salary and, with support from Mary’s Place, found a new apartment! Because her savings had been depleted while trying to stay afloat, we partnered with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle to cover a large portion of her move-in costs and first month’s rent to help Kiya regain her footing. Thanks to our generous donors and passionate community partners like the Urban League, another family has the keys to the stable home they deserve! 🔑 💜