Our Blog

Content created by DESC to share our work, client stories, and thought leadership.

One Year of ORCA: How this innovative program is changing opioid use disorder response and care 

Posted on by beier-laura
September 2, 2026

DESC’s ORCA program is demonstrating an effective and compassionate response to the opioid crisis in Seattle 

People talking in a medical setting.
Community members at the ORCA Center Grand Opening in August 2025.

One year ago, DESC and community partners asked a simple but urgent question: What if we provided people with the compassionate, comprehensive care they actually need after an overdose?  

The answer was the Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center, created to fill a critical gap in opioid use disorder care by providing immediate stabilization, a place to comfortably recover, and access to a variety of treatment and recovery services. 

Continue reading “One Year of ORCA: How this innovative program is changing opioid use disorder response and care “

DESC’s Gimme Shelter 2026 Takes Place October 23

Posted on by beier-laura
August 25, 2026
The Dusty 45s performing at DESC’s Gimme Shelter in 2025.

DESC’s annual benefit concert and program spotlight, Gimme Shelter, takes place this year on October 23 from 6-10p.m.! 

Join us at the Reverie Ballroom for an evening of live music from local legends, inspiring stories about DESC’s work, and the opportunity to connect with a community dedicated to ending homelessness. 

Continue reading “DESC’s Gimme Shelter 2026 Takes Place October 23”

Housing First Linked to Drop in Jail Bookings in New King County Data 

Posted on by beier-laura
July 2, 2026

Jail bookings dropped by 27% in the first year for those in permanent supportive housing, according to King County’s Department of Community and Human Services 

DESC's Birch Grove, a permanent supportive housing location in Lake City.
A studio apartment at DESC’s Birch Grove, our newest permanent supportive housing location, in Lake City.

In a new report by the King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), Housing First was linked to a 27% decrease in jail bookings in just the first year. 

The analysis, which looked at 5,371 residents enrolled in adult-serving permanent supportive housing programs between 2021-2025, also found that 81% of individuals who had a jail-booking in the year prior to their enrollment in permanent supportive housing saw a personal reduction in the number of bookings after enrollment into the program. 

Continue reading “Housing First Linked to Drop in Jail Bookings in New King County Data “

One Year of Stability, Recreation, and Connection at DESC’s STAR Center 

Posted on by beier-laura
June 26, 2026

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

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

One year ago, DESC opened the Stability Through Access and Resources (STAR) Center. This service-rich, non-congregate shelter was designed to support adults facing chronic homelessness and complex behavioral health challenges by connecting them to essential care, wraparound services, and a place to sleep. 

Offering a crucial bridge from the streets to stability, this shelter provides on-site behavioral healthcare, housing navigation, and treatment for addiction, as well as hot meals, showers, and semi-private stays. In 2025, STAR served a total of 321 guests. 

Continue reading “One Year of Stability, Recreation, and Connection at DESC’s STAR Center “