DESC

A new report from the King County, Washington - Government Department of Community and Human Services found that Housing First is linked to a drop in jail bookings!

In the analysis looking at 5,371 adults in permanent supportive housing programs between 2021 and 2025, jail bookings decreased by 27% in the first year after people moved into housing.

“This analysis comes at an important moment,” said Daniel Malone, executive director of DESC. “The data shows that when people have access to supportive housing with services, they experience greater stability over time. These are outcomes that benefit not only residents but the broader community as well."

"Sustaining that progress requires continued partnership and commitment across every level of government, alongside nonprofit providers and community organizations. As homelessness continues to impact communities throughout our region, it is critical that we protect and strengthen investments in supportive housing and services that help people remain housed.”

Read more here!

King County data: Stable housing tied to 27% drop in jail bookings in first year Stable housing is linked to a sharp and lasting drop in jail bookings for people who have experienced homelessness, according to new King County data.An analysi

Next week is our apartment adoptions event for Birch Grove! 🌳

Help us set up 120 studio units in our new permanent supportive housing location in Lake City! By adopting an apartment, you help us cover the cost of essentials like sheets, towels, dishes, and more — plus, you get to add a personal touch for our new tenants moving in. ❤️

Join us on June 18 from 4-7pm to equip apartments, meet other dedicated community members, and learn more about our Birch Grove location! 🏠

Can’t make it to the event? You can also sponsor an apartment, which covers the cost of all essential items for one unit! https://www.desc.org/equip-an-apartment-at-birch-grove/

DESC is proud to provide behavioral health services at the new Bayside Enhanced Shelter in Interbay, Seattle!

Operated by Everyone Deserves Housing, this site features 75 single-adult home units operating as 24/7 transitional housing, with onsite wraparound services including DESC mental health providers.

"We know that people need the stability of a safe place to be, in order to make the best use of the mental health, addiction treatment, and other kinds of services that they need," said Daniel Malone, executive director of DESC, at the opening on June 7.

This is the first shelter to open as part of Mayor Katie B. Wilson's Neighbor by Neighbor plan to rapidly expand shelter and bring people experiencing chronic homelessness across Seattle inside.

Learn more here:

Mayor welcomes Bayside Enhanced Shelter community to Interbay | seattlechannel.org Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson, Everyone Deserves Housing — a nonprofit shelter operator — and Pallet — a company that builds modular shelter units — welcomed the Bayside Enhanced Shelter community to the Interbay neighborhood on Sunday, June 7, the first shelter to open as part of Mayor Wils...

Outreach is an essential part of the work that we do.

To literally meet people where they are, DESC’s Homeless Outreach, Stabilization, and Transition Team (HOST) provides critical services and engagement to people who are experiencing chronic behavioral health challenges in addition to homelessness.

HOST prioritizes services to those who are highly vulnerable and may be unwilling or unable to engage in traditional service models.

A multi-disciplinary team of behavioral health, substance use disorder, and medical professionals, HOST served 284 individuals in the community in 2025 alone!

Learn more about how HOST helps to build relationships and connect people to long-term care:

https://www.desc.org/what-we-do/health-services/host/

Every one of our clients has a unique story, but they share one thing in common: they kept going — even when the road ahead was difficult.

Once housed, people gain the stability, permanence, and wraparound support they need to break the cycle of chronic homelessness and begin pursuing their goals for the future.

And they stay housed. As of 2025, more than 83% of DESC tenants have remained in their housing for five or more years.

No matter the path, housing provides the foundation people need to stay safe, supported, and stable.

Learn more here: https://www.desc.org/about/who-we-serve/

Did you know that DESC’s PACT team served 123 people last year?

The Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) is a nationally recognized practice that works with people with serious and persistent mental illness, assisting them in their journey towards recovery.

DESC is one of the few agencies in Washington State that delivers PACT to the community — with a team of nurses, mental health professionals, substance use disorder specialists, vocational specialists, social workers, and peer specialists.

The PACT model is distinguished by its intensive outreach and team-oriented, trans-disciplinary approach: instead of a case manager being responsible for 1-2 clients, each team member is responsible for every client, working together to help participants reach their goals.

Learn more here! https://www.desc.org/what-we-do/health-services/program-of-assertive-community-treatment-pact/

*Pictured: Registered Nurse Pauline Maina with DESC's PACT team checks Evan’s House tenant Roberto Calderon's blood pressure.

Moving into an apartment after years of homelessness is no easy journey. For Tammy, it was the steady support of DESC staff along the way that made her stability possible.

“I’ve come a really long way,” Tammy said. “I am definitely proof that the work these people come in and do every day … is absolutely producing very good things.”

Dealing with lifelong homelessness before finding a home at DESC’s Burbridge Place, Tammy had years of trauma to unpack as she found her footing in her space. Now, she lives on her own
in an adult family residence and has stopped using substances like methamphetamine.

Tammy’s story shows that housing is the first step, but not the only step. Behavioral health services, wraparound care, and staff who care and assertively support our clients are essential to our client journeys.

“Y’all are my safety... I know I can always come back to DESC.”

Read her story here: https://www.desc.org/tammys-story-finding-safety-at-desc/

Pictured: Tammy (left), with her friend Cortina, who lives at DESC's Burbridge Place. ❤️

Help transform our new units at Birch Grove into welcoming homes for 120 new tenants!

Adopt an apartment and join us on June 18 to set it up! Your donation helps us equip units with essential items including towels, sheets, dishes, and cleaning supplies — plus, you get to personally set up a warm and curated space for our tenants to feel at home upon move in.

Birch Grove, located in Lake City, is named after longtime DESC client, friend, volunteer, and inspiration Helen Birch.

Learn more and adopt an apartment here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/downtown-emergency-service-center/desc-apartment-adoption-for-birch-grove

Last month, DESC's ORCA staff and community partners provided treatment, medical care, and ongoing support to community members in the Little Saigon neighborhood of Seattle!

Over the course of the three days, ORCA staff connected 26 people to medication for opioid use disorder treatment — including nine individuals who started monthly long-acting injectable buprenorphine!

This medication helps manage cravings, can prevent overdose, and supports long-term recovery.

Staff also referred four people to DESC’s STAR Center, a service-rich, non-congregate shelter offering comprehensive support, hot meals, showers, and community enrichment.

Thank you to the Seattle Fire Department, Harborview Medical Center, Public Health - Seattle & King County, REACH/LEAD — Evergreen Treatment Services, and everyone who made this event possible!

Learn more here: https://www.desc.org/descs-orca-team-helps-connect-people-to-opioid-treatment-during-little-saigon-outreach-event/