Birch Grove
2821 NE 123rd St., Seattle, WA 98125
Phone: 206-776-2080
Fax: 206-776-2082
Birch Grove is a permanent supportive housing location in the Lake City neighborhood of Seattle. Located at 2821 NE 123rd St., Seattle, WA 98125, this affordable housing location will contain 120 studio units for single adults who are living with severe and persistent mental health conditions and experiencing chronic homelessness. This location is focused on integrated care, and will have onsite case managers, behavioral health specialists, and connection to substance use disorder treatment.
A Place to Plant Roots:
Birch Grove is named after Helen Birch, longtime DESC client, tenant, and beloved member of our community. Supported by unwavering staff care, Helen’s journey from outreach to housing embodies the spirit of DESC. A friend of those in crisis, a teacher and volunteer, and a legend at DESC, Helen lit up our spaces — from Kerner-Scott House to our thrift store — and her legacy continues to inspire how we serve and support.
“Eternally young at heart,” Helen Birch leaves a lasting influence at DESC, and embodied the way clients, staff, and community can work together to end homelessness.
Services:
Birch Grove provides wraparound services including behavioral health support, substance use disorder treatment, and connection to community services. Each tenant has an assigned support staff member onsite to help with the following:
- Medication monitoring
- Referrals to outpatient clinical and substance use disorder programs
- Community event facilitation
Amenities:
- 120 total studio units, 18 ADA-compliant
- 33 units set aside for Apple Health and Homes referrals
- 15 for Lake City local people exiting homelessness
- 55 units set aside for participants in DESC’s Support, Advocacy, Growth & Employment (SAGE) program
- 10 units set aside for participants in DESC’s Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) Team
- 7 units set aside for Coordinated Entry referrals
- Indoor and outdoor community spaces, including courtyard, activity room, and community dining area
Tenants:
Birch Grove will provide permanent supportive housing for single adults living with persistent mental health conditions, chronic health conditions — including substance use disorder — and a history of chronic homelessness. A priority will be placed based on a vulnerability assessment, assuring those most in need of housing and care receive it.
Capital Funding:
Birch Grove was primarily funded by:
- City of Seattle Office of Housing
- Corporation for Supportive Housing
- Enterprise Community Partners
- JPMorgan Chase
- King County Department of Community and Human Services
- Washington State Department of Commerce – Apple Health and Homes (AHAH) and Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP)
- Washington State Housing Finance Commission
Read our Lake City Supportive Housing FAQs.
Neighborhood map
Community Engagement
We held a neighborhood open house on Sept. 27, 2023
Thank you to all who were able to join us for a neighborhood open house on Sept. 27, met our staff, asked questions and provided your comments.
If you were unable to join us–or you’d like to revisit it–here is the slideshow we presented.
For more information about this project, our supportive housing or DESC, please contact DESC Community Engagement Coordinator Mateo Chavez.
We will update this webpage as the project proceeds.
DESC collected feedback, comments and questions about this project on a public form.
Please note that any information collected during the community outreach process may submitted to the City of Seattle and made public pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act.