Affordable Housing
Guided by the Vestry, the Affordable Housing Committee is exploring the feasibility of redeveloping the St. Nicholas property adjacent to the Cathedral for affordable housing for families at a mix of income levels.
Learn more, including the most recent updates on the timeline for the project and video of several in-depth forums, here.
Habitat for Humanity
Saint Mark’s Volunteers have been working with the local Seattle/King County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity and participating in national and international building projects for over 25 years. Recently they have been involved with an Interfaith Build and constructing a Tiny House project on site to be transported for permanent housing. Learn more at the Seattle/King County Habitat page.
Contact Jacquelyn Miller: jcmiller31@gmail.com or Gordon Miller: glmiller@seattleu.edu
Lowell School Volunteers
Lowell Elementary is located just under a mile from the cathedral and has been a long-time community partner with Saint Mark’s. More than 25 percent of students are unhoused. Saint Mark’s provides support for basic needs in addition to volunteering for events. This ministry seeks to provide a range of support to our neighboring public school which serves a diverse population of students and families. This includes diversity of home languages, ethnicity, special needs and housing security. Support at community events, individual tutoring, Staff Appreciation Week, Alternative Gifts during the holiday season, as well as on-line giving, are some of the opportunities to enter into an on-going partnership.
Contact Cherie Bradshaw: bradshawcherie@msn.com
Tent City 3
For 17 of the past 23 years Tent City residents have used the South parking lot of the Cathedral for temporary shelter (2001–2013, and 2020–present), usually for three months in the summer. In recent years, the Meals Ministry has provided a hot meal on Sunday evenings and has expanded the offering for parishioners to join alongside Tent City guests. Learn more about Tent City 3 at their own website here.
Operation Night Watch
and Donna Jean's Place at Saint Mark's
Operation Night Watch serves our neighbors who are poor and homeless. Saint Mark's community members participate in the Broadway Street Ministry as volunteers build relationships with those sleeping outside and bring basic snacks, socks and hygiene supplies as needed.
Learn more information about the cathedral's collaboration with Operation Nightwatch at this evening forum.
Saint Mark’s is working with Operation Nightwatch to operate an emergency shelter for women on the cathedral property in the vacant space of the St. Nicholas Building, called Donna Jean's Place at Saint Mark's. It begins operation is February 2025. Learn more here.
The Threshold Fund
The Saint Mark’s Cathedral Threshold Fund began as an initiative to help individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity by providing financial assistance with rental deposits and move-in costs, thereby lowering the financial barrier to safe, permanent housing. Since its launch in 2018, more than two hundred individuals and families have benefitted from Saint Mark's Threshold Fund. Qualified recipients typically receive first and last month’s rent and security deposit— half as an outright gift, half as a loan to be repaid when they are able. Saint Mark’s partners with Catholic Community Services (CCS) to administer the program, which includes case management to ensure those in need obtain the support services from which they will benefit. To date, more than $100,000 has been provided through the Threshold Fund, all made possible by donations.
More information, including annual data of impact, can be found here.
Contact The Very Rev. Steven L. Thomason: sthomason@saintmarks.org
Meal Sharing Ministry
The Meal Sharing Ministry is committed to providing nutritious meals and warm hospitality to our fellow neighbors in Seattle who are homeless and or hungry. We prepare and serve meals regularly for three ongoing programs: dinner monthly for men aged 50+ who are currently living at St. Martin de Porres shelter, breakfast monthly to those in need in our community through First Covenant Church’s Community Breakfast, and dinner bi-monthly for homeless youth through Teen Feed. We also respond to other needs in the community, including weekly Sunday dinners for residents of Tent City when they stay with us on the Cathedral grounds. We welcome everyone’s participation! No special cooking skills are required.
Contact Deborah Person: mealministry@saintmarks.org