At DESC, our mission is to end long-term homelessness for people experiencing some of life’s toughest challenges — including serious mental illness, chronic health conditions, substance use disorders, and the lasting effects of trauma. In 2024, we supported nearly 7,000 individuals across a range of programs designed to meet people where they are and provide long-term solutions.
But much of this life-changing work would not be possible without federal funding — more than a quarter of our revenue depends on it.
A Look at Our Impact in 2024
In the past year, 6,988 unique individuals enrolled in one or more DESC programs:
- Permanent supportive housing: 1,996 people
- Shelter/emergency housing: 939 people
- Mobile crisis response: 3,220 people
- Crisis Solutions Center: 1,095 people
- Outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment: 1,913 people
- Opioid treatment services: 657 people
These numbers reflect the breadth of DESC’s services — and the deep need in our community.
One of the most powerful outcomes of this work: 466 people moved from homelessness into housing in 2024. Of those, 85 percent moved into DESC’s permanent supportive housing, while 15 percent found other housing solutions. These are real lives transformed; real progress made.
HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Funding: Essential to Supportive Housing
DESC is the largest provider of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals with disabilities in Washington state. Because of this, we receive the largest share of Continuum of Care (CoC) funding in the state — a critical resource distributed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
CoC funding is the backbone of many of our programs. It supports rent subsidies, building operations, and the wraparound services that help our clients not just obtain housing, but stay housed. Depending on the program, between 7 and 80 percent of the revenue for our permanent supportive housing comes from CoC funds. Tenants living in our “scattered site apartments,” which are rented from private landlords and supported with comprehensive case management services, would face certain harm. These units rely entirely on CoC funds to subsidize tenant rent.
If CoC funding is cut, the impact could be devastating for many of our clients and programs:
- Approximately 1,400 clients who rely on these services could lose access to them.
- Many would face a return to homelessness, especially those who live in our scattered site apartments.
- Essential supports for people with severe disabilities would be reduced.
- Hundreds of DESC staff would face job instability and loss.
Medicaid: Critical to Behavioral Health and Crisis Care
Another vital pillar of support is Medicaid, which helps fund our behavioral health work. This includes:
- Outpatient mental health services
- Outpatient substance use disorder treatment
- Opioid treatment and recovery
- Mobile crisis response teams and crisis stabilization services
Additionally, Washington state’s Foundational Community Supports program, a Medicaid-reimbursable service, also helps fund our Supported Employment Program and services at our permanent supportive housing sites. This funding ensures we can continue providing care that keeps people safe, stable, and on the path to recovery.
The Role of Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
For many DESC clients, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is their only source of income. This is especially true for those living in our permanent supportive housing, where residents often live with serious disabling conditions that require long-term support.
People who have experienced chronic homelessness face a complex mix of challenges — severe mental health issues, physical disabilities, chronic disease, and substance use disorders. The trauma of living on the streets for years only makes things worse. Many of our tenants have endured violence, hunger, discrimination, and prolonged exposure to the elements, all while navigating systems not designed to meet their needs.
Federal income supports like SSI give people the basic stability they need to begin healing — and to maintain housing in the long run.
Federal Funding Isn’t Just Dollars — It’s Lives
At DESC, federal dollars help provide a warm bed, life-saving treatment, and a path out of homelessness. These aren’t abstract numbers — they’re the building blocks of recovery, stability, and dignity for thousands of people each year.
As the need in our community grows, so does the importance of strong, consistent support. Together, we can make sure no one is left behind. Learn more about how you can help bridge the gap left behind by federal funding cuts.