Issue link: https://nest.uberflip.com/i/522018
N ot long ago homeless women in Seattle were walking from service to service carrying their homes on their backs while trying to get their physical needs met. Coupled with the fact that many of these women were mothers with young children and their plight became even more difficult. Women were waiting in line for hours for meals, laundry, medical care, benefits, to use a free phone, to apply for housing and employment. In 1999 Mary's Place changed that. 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 A Place To Call Home established to offer much needed services to more than 4,500 homeless families in Seattle. Their offerings are unique in that it is a one-stop shop of sorts. Two meals a day, hygiene facilities, showers, laundry, medical care as well as ample resources for housing, employment and benefits. But perhaps even more than the important than meeting the the physical needs Mary's Place is providing a solid sounding board for families that are struggling mentally with where they find themselves. "Often women come into the shelter with a lot of grief, pain, loss and depression" notes Marty Hartman, Executive Director. "We help Mary ' s Place