St. Mark's Cathedral Opens 20-Bed Shelter for Homeless Women
St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle, Washington, has opened a 20-bed emergency shelter for homeless women. The shelter, named Donna Summer's Place, is a result of a collaboration between the cathedral and Operation Nightwatch, which began operating the facility in February 2025.
The shelter, located in a renovated space provided by the cathedral, offers a range of amenities including showers, toilets, lockers, a laundry facility, exam rooms, and a communal sleeping area. The 2,000 square feet of space was previously two classrooms in a cathedral-owned building, which underwent a $100,000 renovation to accommodate the shelter.
The initiative was sparked by a conversation between The Very Rev. Steven Thomason, dean of the cathedral, and Operation Nightwatch leaders about the urgent need for emergency shelter beds. This new shelter doubles the capacity of the previous Donna Summer's Place, which operated as a 10-bed facility at a Catholic church in Seattle. Operation Nightwatch also runs a separate shelter for men and a street ministry, further demonstrating their commitment to addressing homelessness in the city.
The opening of Donna Summer's Place at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral highlights the growing need for affordable housing and emergency shelter beds in Seattle and across the United States. With an estimated shortage of 7.1 million affordable housing units for low-income renters nationwide, initiatives like this are crucial in providing immediate relief and support to those experiencing homelessness.
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