Hourglass: United Way of King County
May 25, 2026 · 38 min · 12 segments
Good news happens. This week's episode is about Mary's Place, a United Way supported, Seattle-based organization that provides resources and support to King County families experiencing homelessness…
Alison MoonGuestMiriam ClitheroeGuest
Joe BurrisHostNo entities detected.
Amid all the discussions and debates surrounding our area's approach to the homelessness crisis, you should know that some organizations are making great strides in getting and keeping people off the streets.
United Way is proud to say that it supports and partners with groups like Mary's Place, a Seattle-based organization that is well known for providing resources and support to King County families experiencing homelessness.
And while rising point-in-time counts make headlines and the effectiveness of local agencies are called into question, Mary's Place is quietly helping hundreds of families escape lives of finding shelter any way they can, from automobiles to restrooms in parks.
And as its community director, Alison Moon, just mentioned, Mary's Place has been a balm to parents who've lost their homes while pouring all their time and resources into the care of sick children.
The organization has been a shelter to victims of domestic violence who found living on the streets safer than their four-wall domiciles.
The folks at Mary's Place hear of people's stereotypes, prejudices, and preconceived notions about those living on the streets, and they keep helping people who defy those stereotypes: construction workers, preschool teachers, roofers, people living paycheck to paycheck, sometimes with infants and toddlers, when a simple setback, be it a pink slip, a house fire, a rent increase, or a medical bill, put them at rock bottom.
It's why Mary's Place needs to be at the table when public, private, and philanthropic sectors are discussing solutions to the homelessness crisis.
Since its founding in 1919, the organization has been implementing solutions and pivoting when our area's homelessness climate shifts.
As challenging as our area's housing problems are, without Mary's Place, they would be much worse.
According to its website, Mary's Place connects families to medical support, behavioral health services, health insurance, and service providers.
It allows moms with newborns to bond and recover after giving birth in a private, nurturing setting.
It helps unsheltered families and families in shelter develop and meet financial and housing goals and transition into permanent housing.
Mary's Place provides emergency family shelter and works to prevent homelessness with rental assistance and stability support.
It works with landlords, property managers, and housing providers to build relationships and identify affordable housing solutions for families.
Last year alone, Mary's Place served more than 1,800 families, and it served more than 450,000 meals.
It provided more than 140,000 overnight stays and moved nearly 1,500 families into stable housing.
United Way has been partnering with Mary's Place since the early years of the organization's founding, as we both share a passion for providing King County residents with safe, stable housing.
Currently, Mary's Place is a partner in our eviction prevention work, and we support the organization in its efforts to expand its homelessness prevention strategies.Hourglass sat down with Allison and Mary's Place Stability Director Miriam Clithero for a conversation on topics including the organization's approach to addressing homelessness, its partnership with United Way, and how it has pivoted to the ever-changing housing crisis.
Amid all the discussions and debates surrounding our area's approach to the homelessness crisis, you should know that some organizations are making great strides in getting and keeping people off the streets.
United Way is proud to say that it supports and partners with groups like Mary's Place, a Seattle-based organization that is well known for providing resources and support to King County families experiencing homelessness.
And while rising point-in-time counts make headlines and the effectiveness of local agencies are called into question, Mary's Place is quietly helping hundreds of families escape lives of finding shelter any way they can, from automobiles to restrooms in parks.
And as its community director, Alison Moon, just mentioned, Mary's Place has been a balm to parents who've lost their homes while pouring all their time and resources into the care of sick children.
The organization has been a shelter to victims of domestic violence who found living on the streets safer than their four-wall domiciles.
The folks at Mary's Place hear of people's stereotypes, prejudices, and preconceived notions about those living on the streets, and they keep helping people who defy those stereotypes: construction workers, preschool teachers, roofers, people living paycheck to paycheck, sometimes with infants and toddlers, when a simple setback, be it a pink slip, a house fire, a rent increase, or a medical bill, put them at rock bottom.
It's why Mary's Place needs to be at the table when public, private, and philanthropic sectors are discussing solutions to the homelessness crisis.
Since its founding in 1919, the organization has been implementing solutions and pivoting when our area's homelessness climate shifts.
As challenging as our area's housing problems are, without Mary's Place, they would be much worse.
According to its website, Mary's Place connects families to medical support, behavioral health services, health insurance, and service providers.
It allows moms with newborns to bond and recover after giving birth in a private, nurturing setting.
It helps unsheltered families and families in shelter develop and meet financial and housing goals and transition into permanent housing.
Mary's Place provides emergency family shelter and works to prevent homelessness with rental assistance and stability support.
It works with landlords, property managers, and housing providers to build relationships and identify affordable housing solutions for families.
Last year alone, Mary's Place served more than 1,800 families, and it served more than 450,000 meals.
It provided more than 140,000 overnight stays and moved nearly 1,500 families into stable housing.
United Way has been partnering with Mary's Place since the early years of the organization's founding, as we both share a passion for providing King County residents with safe, stable housing.
Currently, Mary's Place is a partner in our eviction prevention work, and we support the organization in its efforts to expand its homelessness prevention strategies.Hourglass sat down with Allison and Mary's Place Stability Director Miriam Clithero for a conversation on topics including the organization's approach to addressing homelessness, its partnership with United Way, and how it has pivoted to the ever-changing housing crisis.
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