More Than a Place to Sleep: Jada’s Journey to Stability and Joy
For Jada, life used to mean just getting through the day—barely surviving, not truly living.
After fleeing domestic violence while pregnant, she found herself completely alone. With no family support, no safety net, and nowhere to go, Jada and her newborn son, Jaden, began a chapter marked by instability and uncertainty. They bounced between couches—staying with coworkers, acquaintances, anyone who could spare a temporary space.
They spent their days commuting across the city, sometimes stopping at parks to let Jaden play between transfers. But the instability took a toll. “Most of the people we stayed with didn’t have kids,” Jada shares. “They didn’t understand. I knew if we were quiet, it would be okay. But it was no place for a child to grow, learn, or feel love.”
Soon, Jada knew she and Jaden needed more than temporary places to sleep. They needed a home. That’s when she reached out to Mary’s Place.
Shelters accross King County were full—but the Mary’s Place mobile outreach team immediately stepped up to help. At first, Jada was hesitant; she’d heard promises before that went nowhere. But this time was different. “They told me they could help me,” she says. “And they did. They came that week.”
Matt, a member of our outreach team, brought more than encouragement—he brought action. He delivered emergency supplies, helped Jada obtain vital documents like IDs and medical coverage, and navigated the complex housing system alongside her.
Within weeks, Jada was holding the keys to her very first apartment!
Jada gives Jaden a bath in their new apartment!
“The first thing I did when we moved in was give my son a bath,” she says with a smile. “And when he went to sleep after that bath, I watched a movie—for the first time in what felt like forever.”
Having a home transformed their lives. No more endless bus rides. No more wondering how many more nights they would be welcome on the current couch. Just peace, stability, and the simple joys of motherhood.
Today, Jada is preparing to start dental hygienist school, focused on building a future for both herself and Jaden—who is now a thriving, confident little boy. Together, they’ve stepped out of survival mode and into a life filled with possibility.
“I would never have thought that just having your own space to call home would mean so much,” Jada said. “It makes you feel like you’ve got another shot at life.”
At Mary’s Place, we believe every family deserves that shot. Through our three-pronged approach—emergency shelter, mobile outreach, and homelessness prevention—we’re working to break the generational cycles of homelessness and keep families safe, together, and on a path toward lasting stability.
Jada’s story is more than one of survival. It’s a powerful testament to what resilience, compassion, and community support can make possible!
During our annual dream BIG campaign, you can make DOUBLE the impact for families like Jada’s thanks to our one million dollar community challenge match! Every gift made through April 30, 2025, will go twice as far to help families like Jada’s find and keep safe, stable housing.