Babies of Homelessness

Having the Basics Can Change Everything

More than 39,200 children under the age of 6 live in poverty in King County. More significant than food security, say parents, is finding a way to provide enough diapers for their children. To diaper all 39,200 kids for a year would cost... tens of millions of dollars. Think of that!!

Babies of Homelessness was established in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) to confront diaper need. We work tirelessly to fulfill our mission of improving health and well-being for parents and children by providing diapers, wipes and formula free of charge to King and Snohomish County families and agencies.

Babies of Homelessness is one of three officially recognized diaper banks in this area, and we know not one group can support the ongoing financial cost alone. This massive public health issue requires coordinated efforts by nonprofits, government agencies, and YOU. Even though
state-funded TANF households - families with children under three - will receive an increase of
$100 per month to help with diapers, the program has limited reach and insufficient to create the impact it aims to bring. That $100 covers diapers for 1 child, but about half the families we serve have 2 or more children requiring diapers. Unlike other essentials like food, shelter, and medicine, few people realize that no federal assistance programs provide diaper assistance to families, including 'food stamps,' Medicaid, or housing vouchers. Some lawmakers do not even recognize diapers as a basic need, as evidenced by diapers being taxed in Washington state.

Since 2016, Babies of Homelessness has served more than 8,300 children by delivering diapers, formula, and wipes. As prices for essentials skyrocket, the demand for our services grows and grows. We have identified 21 human service agencies currently not receiving diapers from anyone else. Unhoused families living in shelters, cars, or motels or who now live in subsidized housing, need diaper support and diapers every day. We want to serve these kids, and we know you want to help, too. We are ready to deliver even more hope if we have your support.

Most diaper banks distribute diapers directly to clients or partner agencies. Our diaper bank offers three programs to easily and quickly access services: direct service, partner distribution and mobile service. 

• Direct Service: Families experiencing homelessness–living in cars, tent cities, encampments, tiny homes, motels, shelters, RVs, or couch surfing–call our intake line and place an order of diapers, wipes and formula in preferred sizes and brands. Outreach volunteers drive to the family and deliver the order within 72-hours, depending on the urgency. 
  
  
• Partner Distribution: We supply bulk quantities of diapers, wipes and formula through community partner agencies because clients needing help with diapers have other needs. Each month, case managers submit orders for diapers, wipes and formulas in requested sizes and brands using a user-friendly electronic form. Our paid full-time operations manager pulls inventory from the warehouse, loads the van and drops off bulk inventory quantities to each partner agency. Case managers then distribute inventory to their clients. Our easy ordering process, bulk quantity, and direct service allow case managers to focus on delivering top-notch case management without worrying about how to procure diapers, submit long weekly orders, or pick up diapers.
  
  
• Mobile Pickup Service: Three times a month, families pick up a box of diapers, package of wipes and can of formula at one of three bus-accessible locations in Everett, Bellevue or Renton. Clients call our intake line in advance to place an order. 

When it comes to procurement, we source inventory in two ways: in-kind donations or purchased. Babies of Homelessness staff, volunteers and community members host online and in-person donation drives throughout the year. We collect and store inventory at a 2400 sq footage Bellevue facility with a loading dock, forklift, and a 53-foot truck. The Operations Manager places wholesale orders at discounted prices for diapers we still need, enabling us to stretch donor dollars for maximal impact. We also partner with companies like Ridwell and Parasol to receive hundreds of thousands of free diapers.