DESC

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/

We are having a wonderful time at Housing First Partners Conference 2026 in San Francisco!

Over 1,200 advocates from 43 states and six countries are joining together with the shared belief that housing — paired with compassionate, comprehensive support —is the most effective path to ending homelessness.

At hashtag , we're addressing misconceptions about permanent supportive housing, discussing ethical storytelling, and connecting on how we can best serve our communities.

Thank you to all our attendees and supporters!

Did you know that the majority of the people visiting DESC’s Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center are coming for ongoing treatment for opioid use disorder?

ORCA isn’t just a place for post-overdose recovery — it’s a space where people can find reliable care, support, and connection to their next step.

Since opening in September 2025, ORCA has served 1,100+ clients — including 540 people starting medication for opioid use disorder.

Learn more in this piece by one of ORCA’s funders, the City of Seattle Government Human Services Department:

Community Corner—Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center - Human Interests Community Corner highlights the work of Seattle Human Services’ community partners in their own words. Our goal is to gather stories and photos that illustrate their amazing work on behalf of the people of Seattle. This post focuses on the Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center, a facility op...

At DESC, we serve people who have been homeless for years, even decades.

These are our neighbors who’ve been living unsheltered while navigating mental illness, substance use disorders, chronic health conditions, and other complex challenges — cycling through systems that have not met their needs.

At DESC, we know that behavioral healthcare — including mental health services, treatment for substance use disorders, and case management — is essential to helping people find safety and stability. It’s housing AND healthcare, not housing only.

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

Today’s the day!

By donating to DESC for , you can ensure that the nearly 7,000 people we serve annually remain housed, continue having access to behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment, and are met where they're at.

Join us in working to end homelessness by giving today:

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/downtown-emergency-service-center/givebig-2026