Mary's Place is the first stop on the journey out of homelessness for women and children.
Mary's Place was established in 1999 in response to homeless women's cry for a complete resource center. Women were walking from service to service carrying their home on their backs trying to get their physical needs met. They were waiting in line for hours for meals, laundry, medical care, benefits, to use a free phone, to apply for housing and employment.
With a $32,000 grant from the Boeing Community Fund and the passion of a dedicated Board from the Church of Mary Magdalene, Mary's Place was born in October 1999. Several major planning sessions involving 50+ homeless women were held to develop the program. Women were asked what they needed to rise up out of homelessness. Together they developed the structure and daily schedule that remains in effect 13 years later: two meals a day, hygiene facilities, showers, laundry, medical care, support groups and ample resources for housing, employment and benefits. Mary's Place has grown and now also operates a couple of overnight shelters for families.
