DESC

DESC helps people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing.

Emergency Housing and Shelter Services (as of 2026)

Universal Referral Form

The Universal Referral Form can be filled out by anyone in need of short-term shelter or emergency housing. The form can be filled out by anyone, but is written with case managers in mind.

Emergency Shelters

STAR Center

The Substance Treatment and Rehabilitation Center is a harm reduction shelter on 3rd Ave and Cherry St in Downtown Seattle. It provides temporary 3-month shelter for 100 guests. Case managers and shelter coordinators are particularly well-trained on Narcan administration and harm reduction tactics.

Anyone can make a STAR Center referral for themselves or a friend using the form found on STAR Center's website: https://www.desc.org/star-center/

West Wing Shelter

Shelter occupying the retired West Wing County Jail, this reclaimed facility offers temporary shelter to guests.

Kerner-Scott Women's Shelter

510 Minor Ave N, Seattle WA 98109

• Eligibility: Must be a highly vulnerable female-identifying individual who is experiencing homelessness and who struggle with severe and persistent mental health concerns, lack service connections or other support, and are unwilling or unable to engage in traditional service models. Clients do not need to be enrolled in HOST at the time of intake but should be a good fit for HOST services.
• Special features: We partner with Safe Haven to offer low-barrier Permanent Supportive Housing to individuals who are unable to qualify for other DESC PSH programs. KSHWS clients do not need to go through Coordinated Entry to access KSH Safe Haven.
• Services onsite: n/a
• Referrals/EH Placement: n/a

Emergency Housing

Gateway

11140 Stone Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133

• Eligibility: Emergency housing program providing emergency housing and services to individuals with a disability experiencing homelessness, or in danger of becoming, homeless.

• Special features: Shared rooms (2 per room), hotel-style.

• Services onsite: Case management, meals, and resources for transitioning to permanent housing. Basic Medical Care provided.

• Referrals/EH Placement: Referrals are prioritized based on the vulnerability score of the client. This score is calculated using the mini VAT (vulnerability assessment tool) included in the referral link.

Clinical Services (as of 2026)

Downtown Behavioral Health Clinic

517 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104

The Downtown Clinic operates on 3rd Ave and James St in Downtown Seattle. It provides a daytime drop-in center, case management services, mental health outreach support services, substance use dependency counseling, and 24/7 emergency opioid reversal treatments.

The Clinic at Hobson Place

2120 S. Plum St., Seattle, WA 98144

The Clinic at Hobson Place offers primary care, support and advocacy from Harborview Medical Center and DESC for our community’s at-risk and vulnerable individuals.

SAGE (Support, Advocacy, Growth and Employment)

A program at both DBHC and Hobson Clinic that provides comprehensive outpatient mental health -- from psychiatry, to nursing, to case management -- for people who are homeless and in their journey toward recovery.

Arrive at either DBHC or Hobson by 8:30am (as early as possible) for first-come, first-serve intake appointments to begin services:

• 2 walk-in slots on Mon, Tues, and Fri
• 1 walk-in slot on Wed, Thurs

Emergency Crisis Outreach

MRRCT (Mobile Rapid Response Crisis Team)

The MRRCT (pronounced "meerkat") Team works with 911 dispatch to quickly attend to those who are in active mental health crisis or trauma, as an alternative to police intervention.

MRRCT services are accessed by first calling 911. Emphasize to dispatch that the individual is "having a severe mental health crisis" to activate MRRCT services instead of police.

Crisis Solutions Center

The CSC is an emergency short-term recovery center for those who have experienced recent trauma while living outdoors. Referrals are made through police, emergency medical, or mental health outreach services.

Permanent Supportive Housing

DESC operates 20 Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) sites and growing. Applications must be submitted through Coordinated Entry (CEA), accessible through any case management services in the county, including the DESC's Downtown Clinic or shelters.

Harm Reduction

As of October 2025, Federal funding prohibits grant recipients from distributing harm reduction supplies like clean needles, tinfoil, and clean smoking glass. In order to maintain the housing status of nearly 1,500 residents, DESC has ceased distribution of harm reduction material. People in need of these items should contact PHRA or similar orgs who do not operate housing or receive federal funding.