moving forward

We are heartbroken by the murder of George Floyd, the latest death of a Black man by police. We stand with him, his family, and the Black community as we mourn.

We're angry that the systems that caused Mr. Floyd's and so many other deaths, systems that perpetuate racism and white supremacy in our culture, remain firmly ingrained. We stand in solidarity with those who are protesting for justice and change.

This racism and hate come on top of the stress, burden, and illness being inequitably experienced today. We're horrified at the toll that the coronavirus pandemic is taking on Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities in our country.

When women and families engage in services at Mary's Place, we regularly hear stories about the trauma of not having a home, not having a safe place to take a shower, do homework, or gather as a family. Right now, conversations among guests and staff reflect the additional traumas of this pandemic and the violence of structural racism that have had profound and lasting impacts on the communities we serve.

Racism and homelessness are inextricably linked. Black and Indigenous Americans are significantly more likely to experience homelessness. In King County, only 6% of people identify as Black and .9% as Native American, yet over 40% of our families experiencing homelessness at Mary's Place are Black and nearly 4% Native American. The disproportionality is staggering. We cannot address homelessness without first addressing the underlying structural racism.

We don't have all the answers, but we promise to listen and learn. We are committed to standing in solidarity with our Black staff, guests, and community and doing the hard work to recognize and break down the structures of power that continue to oppress people of color both inside and outside of our organization – structures that create unequal access to rights and opportunities for communities of color.

This week we are listening carefully to our Black staff and guests and providing space for all to share their experiences and feelings. We know that for things to change, we must move from listening to action.

We don't know where this will all lead us, but we know we can't go back to the way things were. We are committed to reviewing policies and procedures that negatively impact Black lives. We invite you to join us in this work and bring those issues to our attention. We believe that Black lives matter and are committed to doing better and doing more.