Julia's Place Needs YOU!

Where are Homeless Families with Children to Go at Night?

Julia's Place is an emergency night shelter for up to five homeless families with children - families who would otherwise be sleeping on buses, under bridges, or split up in different shelters. It’s the only emergency overnight shelter for two-parent families in King County and it is staffed by community volunteers.

Last April, Mary's Place, a day center for homeless women and their children, together with partners in the faith community, decided they needed to do something to house the increasing numbers of homeless families with no place to sleep at night. Madrona Grace came to the rescue with a facility to shelter families at the church, and volunteers to staff Julia's Place one week a quarter. The organization is looking for other groups to join in and commit to providing volunteers to staff one or more of the remaining twelve weeks. Partner groups can include congregations, community groups, book clubs, and other organizations.

The “Madrona Moms” an informal community group that started with a group of moms who met at the Madrona Playfield and has grown to an email network of over 2,000 parents and neighbors, have signed up to host at Julia’s place one week a quarter. Alison Cummings, the group’s organizer, said that member moms jumped at the chance to help. “No child should ever be homeless,” says Cummings. “These are loving parents, doing the best that they can in tough, unexpected circumstances, trying to keep their kids warm and safe at night.”

Volunteers commit to bringing meals (dinner and breakfast), spending time with the families, and hosting overnight shifts for one week a quarter.

For more information about how you can help, contact Alyson Moon at Mary's Place at Alyson@marysplaceseattle.org or call her at  (206) 621-8474.