Capacity falls even as family homelessness rises
Seattle-area nonprofit Mary’s Place says a new shelter planned in Burien will add 200 beds for families when it opens around mid-2027, but that increase will only partially offset a steep decline in the organization’s ability to house families over the past three years.
Mary’s Place reported that it had about 800 beds for families in 2023 but now has roughly 365 beds. The decrease comes as a regional report from the King County Regional Homeless Authority found unsheltered family homelessness rose sharply between 2022 and 2026 — from 1,253 individuals in 415 households to 2,224 individuals in 647 households.
“It’s been extremely difficult,” the organization’s CEO told reporters, describing the daily strain on emergency intake staff and the stress families face trying to keep children safe.
Daily demand outpaces the help available
The CEO said Mary’s Place receives approximately 45 calls per day from families seeking to move out of tents and vehicles into more supportive housing. On most days, the organization is able to help only one to three families.
- New Burien shelter: 200 beds, opening mid-next year.
- Mary’s Place bed count: 800 (2023) → 365 (2026).
- Daily calls for help: about 45; families helped daily: 1–3.
Part of the drop in temporary family housing capacity is tied to a decline in affordable spaces landlords make available for shelter use. Mary’s Place opened a temporary congregate shelter in downtown Bellevue in December 2022 for 90 families after renting a former Silver Cloud Inn at no cost. That site recently closed after the building’s owners reclaimed the property for other uses. Two smaller congregate sites have also closed, the CEO said.
Budget and long-term implications
Mary’s Place operates on a budget of about $30 million. Even with the Burien facility coming online next year, the organization will have roughly half the capacity it had in 2023 and will still fall short of meeting current demand.
| Measure | 2023 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Mary’s Place family bed capacity | 800 | 365 |
| Unsheltered family individuals (King County) | 1,253 | 2,224 |
| Daily family help requests to Mary’s Place | About 45 calls/day (2026) | |
The shortfall poses immediate operational challenges for frontline staff and longer-term policy questions for Seattle and King County leaders about securing stable sites and converting temporary successes into sustainable solutions. Providers and families say the volatility of available spaces — where landlords may offer a site for shelter use but later reclaim it for redevelopment — undermines continuity of care and planning.
For Seattle residents, that means more families living unsheltered or in unstable temporary arrangements, with children and caregivers facing increased safety and health risks. The Burien project will provide relief for some families, but providers warn that it is not a substitute for larger investments in permanent affordable housing and durable shelter sites across King County.
Local officials and service providers will need to weigh immediate shelter capacity, long-term housing supply, and strategies for stabilizing temporary locations if the region is to close the gap between rising need and shrinking resources.
