There have been recent claims about the work DESC is doing at Bloomside, our permanent supportive housing site in Burien. We want to make sure our supporters and community members have the facts.
A Community Partnership
DESC is a committed partner in Burien. For starters, we prioritized people for tenancy who had already been experiencing homelessness in Burien. We work closely with local police, first responders, hospitals, city government, and advocacy groups to ensure the safety of both our tenants and our neighbors. We continue to convene multiple groups to advise DESC on operations and tenant recruitment, and we regularly participate in other local workgroups focused on community needs. Bloomside, like all DESC sites, has a zero-tolerance policy for illicit or illegal activity in our public spaces — both inside and outside the building.
Our tenants, like any tenants, have both rights and responsibilities. When someone moves into Bloomside, they sign a lease and an addendum called the Good Neighbor Policy. This agreement asks tenants to avoid behaviors that could disrupt or inconvenience neighbors, such as loitering, littering, or yelling. If a neighbor believes a DESC tenant is causing a concern, we encourage them to call the front desk at any time. Our staff will immediately check on the situation, reinforce expectations, and take further action or provide support as needed.
Who We Serve
It’s important to understand who lives at Bloomside. DESC provides supportive housing for 95 people who have been chronically homeless — many for years or even decades. They are often living with multiple, serious health challenges, such as schizophrenia and other mental health conditions, substance use disorders, physical disabilities, and the long-term effects of trauma.
These are the people who need supportive housing most: safe, stable homes paired with assertive outreach and wraparound services. For some tenants, supportive housing is a stepping stone toward greater independence. For others, it is a lifelong necessity. What it is not is a “quick fix.” The complex challenges our tenants face require time, persistence, and consistent care.
Setting the Record Straight
Some have claimed that Bloomside has had “600 police responses” this year. This is misleading.
- The vast majority of these records are not service calls to Bloomside. Instead, they are routine entries the Burien Police Department asked DESC to log — simple reports of neighborhood activity or potential issues in the surrounding area. These were meant to support police monitoring efforts and are not connected to Bloomside tenants.
- Looking specifically at Bloomside, there have been a small number of calls each week from DESC staff or tenants. Most of these have been for nonviolent or nuisance issues, such as a tenant needing behavioral health support, conflicts between tenants, behavioral health crises, or even staff getting stuck in an elevator.
- The remaining “calls” counted in the 600 figure are instances where police documented their own activity, not requests for service from Bloomside.
How We Support Our Tenants
At Bloomside, support is constant and proactive:
- Daily wellness checks to ensure safety and connection.
- Immediate communication when risks arise — for example, when a dangerous batch of fentanyl was circulating in Burien, staff quickly alerted tenants and leadership.
- Assertive engagement with tenants to connect them to substance use disorder treatment, harm reduction services, and medical care.
- Integrated behavioral health, medical, and substance use services offered across DESC’s supportive housing sites and shelters.
We also know this work matters to Burien directly: approximately one-third of Bloomside tenants were formerly living unsheltered in Burien. Today, they have homes, stability, and support in their own community. Every person housed at Bloomside is one less person on Burien’s streets — and the overwhelming majority of our tenants are now living healthier, more stable lives than before.
Building Stability and Community
DESC’s mission is to help people who have been left at the margins of society find stability, health, and dignity. Supportive housing doesn’t promise to “fix” people overnight, but it does provide the safety and foundation needed to begin that journey. Research — including multiple University of Washington studies — shows that this model reduces substance use, improves health outcomes, and lowers reliance on costly emergency services.
We know that building strong community relationships takes time, communication, and care. We are committed to being good neighbors, and we believe our tenants share that commitment. Like any of us, they want a safe and secure community to live in.
Closing
DESC remains focused on evidence-based solutions: permanent supportive housing and wraparound care that help people exit homelessness for good.
We invite our partners, supporters, and neighbors to stand with us in rejecting stigma and supporting proven approaches that bring stability, safety, and dignity to people and communities alike.