Mary's Place opens a small house shelter in Shoreline

Volunteers pose in front of Mary's Place Shoreline
Photo courtesy Mary's Place

Providing shelter for homeless families with critically ill children

On Sunday morning, January 8, teams of volunteers convened at the newest Mary’s Place shelter in Shoreline to turn the two-bedroom house, on loan from Shoreline Covenant Church, into a home for their Popsicle Place program.

Gutters were cleaned and repaired
by Gaspar's Handyman and Construction
Photo courtesy Mary's Place

Mary's Place operates two day centers where they meet basic needs and provide housing, employment, and wellness resources for women and families experiencing homelessness in Seattle; and five emergency family night shelters that offer 24x7 accommodations for 400 family members – moms, dads, and their children.

Popsicle Place provides comfort and caring in a smaller house setting for kids with life-threatening illnesses and their families, many of who are recovering from chemo and other treatments while living in tents, or their cars parked outside the hospital.

The Shoreline Popsicle Place is Mary's Place second location; the first Popsicle Place program is operating inside the Mary's Place Guest Rooms shelter in downtown Seattle.

“We began to see an increase in the number of families who were becoming homeless as a result of caring for a sick child” said Marty Hartman, Executive Director of Mary’s Place. 

“These moms and dads had lost their jobs to take their child to doctor’s appointments, they lost their homes, they had nowhere to go. Children undergoing chemo would open a car door to be sick. We knew we had to do something to provide a place where these families could focus on healing, and these children could be comfortable and safe. We hope to open more homes as Popsicle Place locations.”

E and L Flooring installed new floors
Photo courtesy Mary's Place

 On Sunday, volunteers from E and L Flooring installed new flooring; Gaspar’s Handyman and Construction Services updated the bathroom, cleaned and repaired the roof and gutters, built a new gate, and did several other small projects.

Seattle Children’s Hospital Volunteer Services donated hygiene products.

First Lutheran Church of Richmond Beach filled the cupboards with supplies and provided furniture to make this house a home for one or two families when it opens at the end of the month.

If you would like to learn more about Mary's Place and how you can help, visit their website.