DESC

09/02/2026

Today marks one year of our Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center — a welcoming place that not only provides compassionate care after an overdose but also provides pathways to treatment.

In one year, the ORCA program — consisting of both the physical center and the ORCA Patient Outreach Division (POD), a mobile outreach team providing treatment and care in the community — has:

💚 Provided care through more than 10,000 encounters
💚Provided care to more than 500 people following an overdose
💚Started nearly 800 people on medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)
💚Started more than 400 people on long-acting injectable (LAI) buprenorphine

And this is just the beginning! The ORCA program's proven, person-centered model provides a strong foundation for continued progress in supporting people struggling with opioid use disorder and reducing overdose deaths in King County.

Read more in our latest blog:

The ORCA Center is transforming not only how we care for people post overdose, but also how our city responds to the opioid crisis among people experiencing homelessness.

09/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who made our second Overdose Awareness and Remembrance Day event a success!

Together, we honored those we've lost to overdose, shared resources and supplies, and heard from those with lived experience of substance use disorder and homelessness. The community also enjoyed free haircuts and artwork created by overdose survivors and neighbors!

Thank you to all our community partners for helping organize such a meaningful celebration and gathering space. 💜

Evergreen Treatment Services | The People's Harm Reduction Alliance

08/27/2026

At DESC, our vision is a community where everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

In 2025, we got closer to that vision — serving a total of 6,569 people through our behavioral health services, entry-level survival services, and permanent supportive housing.

We opened the first Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center to address the opioid crisis with compassionate care; opened the Stability Through Access & Resources (STAR) Center to revolutionize low-barrier shelter; and welcomed 109 new tenants at our 18th permanent supportive location, Steven's Place.

Explore all that we got up to in our complete 2025 Annual Report:

In 2025, DESC served a total of 6,569 people in behavioral health support, entry-level survival services, and supportive housing.

08/26/2026

"Housing First works. The problem is there is not nearly enough housing to go around."

Not only is providing housing first proven to reduce emergency site visits, cost less for the public, and increase housing retention — but most importantly, it gives people agency over their lives.

The issue isn't the method — it's skyrocketing housing costs, lack of affordable housing, and federal attacks on funding for current supportive housing.

Read more in this article by Invisible People:

As the Trump administration and its allies declare Housing First a failure, experts and data show the real drivers of rising street homelessness.

08/19/2026

The combination of healthcare, onsite support, and housing at DESC's 1811 Eastlake is what helped resident Randy Critz find stability on his own terms.

“I’ve never been better,” said Randy in an article published by UW Medicine. “I’ve got my family back now.”

With healthcare from the Harborview Medical Center team and behavioral health support from DESC, Randy has now been focused on his woodworking, reconnecting with his family, and spending time with his cat, Pippin.

Read the full story here ❤️ : https://newsroom.uw.edu/blog/supportive-housing-care-help-resident-keep-demons-at-bay/

Photo credit: Alexis Hauk/UW Medicine.

08/13/2026

Yesterday we had some special visitors at the Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center!

During a ride-along with Health 99, Seattle Fire Department’s overdose response unit that provides client-centered response to people who experience overdose, members from the Harborview Medical Center team and Adam Smith for Congress’s office were able to see this partnership between Health 99 and ORCA in action.

Since ORCA opened in September 2025, 65% of all Health 99 transports have been to the ORCA Center. Here, individuals can recover comfortably, receive judgment-free and compassionate care, and get connected to behavioral health care, medication for opioid use disorder, and more.

Thank you to the Seattle Fire Department and Harborview for your partnership!

08/12/2026

Registration is now open for DESC’s annual fundraising event, Gimme Shelter! 🎶

Join us on October 23 at the Reverie Ballroom & Events for an evening of education, community, and live music from local legends The Dusty 45s and Lady A!

By attending, you not only support DESC’s mission, but also get the opportunity to connect with others dedicated to ending homelessness.

Get your ticket today:

Join DESC at Gimme Shelter, our longest-running annual fundraiser! Spend an inspiring evening with live performances by The Dusty 45's, hosted by local jazz and blues ...

08/11/2026

Did you know that in the first year of being open, DESC’s Stability Through Access and Resources (STAR) Center served 321 people?

Providing meals, showers, and semi-private stays — along with onsite behavioral healthcare and recreational programming — STAR is a crucial bridge from the streets to stability.

As of spring 2026, enrollment in our robust behavioral health services including mental health and substance use disorder treatment reached a rate of 95% for STAR guests!

Learn more about STAR and its one-year anniversary on our blog: https://www.desc.org/one-year-of-stability-recreation-and-connection-at-descs-star-center/

Pictured: Xochitl Rojas, an on-site registered nurse at DESC’s STAR Center, takes a resident’s blood pressure.

This non-congregate, innovative shelter is finding ways to support residents with behavioral healthcare, a place to sleep, and enriching activities.

08/05/2026

Many people experiencing substance use disorder want to improve their circumstances — in fact, one study showed that on average, people went through treatment 16 times before they were housed, and only after entering housing did their substance use outcomes improve.

Housing is what makes a difference. Housing provides that first step to stability by giving people safety, comfort, and dignity.

Learn more in this interview with DESC Executive Director Daniel Malone on the Invisible People podcast:

Homelessness isn’t getting worse because solutions don’t work. It’s...

08/04/2026

DESC and community partners are hosting an event on Friday, August 28!

Bringing together community members, substance use disorder providers, and people with lived experience, this event will honor those lost to overdose, help raise awareness, and center those with lived experience.

This year’s theme, “Overdose is Preventable When We Act,” highlights the importance of education, resources, and connection around overdose prevention and substance use disorder treatment.

💜 Date: Friday, August 28
💜 Time: 1-4 p.m.
💜 Location: City Hall Park, Seattle

We hope you’ll join us!

Evergreen Treatment Services | We Care Daily Clinics