The Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) is a non-profit organization in Seattle, Washington, providing services for that city's homeless population.[1] The organization was founded in 1979 to aid men and women living in a state of chronic homelessness who, due to their severe and persistent mental and addictive illnesses, were not being served by the existing shelters of the time. At its opening, the non-profit sheltered nearly 200 adults from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the ballroom of the Morrison Hotel. Today, DESC is a recognized national leader in homelessness services that specializes in shelters and supportive housing projects. It operates under a Housing First model with a low-barrier for entry into services. DESC clients engage with mental health services, case management and employment services at DESC projects. DESC currently operates 5 shelters and 15 supportive housing projects and is largely funded by the City of Seattle and King County.[2]
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
Historyedit
In the late 1970s, Seattle's Downtown Human Service Council Group expressed concern to Seattle's mayor that there were increases in homelessness and that the mentally ill were not getting the services they needed.[3] Because of these concerns, the City of Seattle, the Church Council of Seattle and WAMI (Washington Advocates for the Mentally Ill) partnered to open the center in 1979.[4]
DESC designed and developed the 1811 Eastlake project to house up to 75 formerly homeless alcoholics. Residents in this housing project are permitted to possess and consume alcohol in their rooms and are not required to enroll in treatment as a condition of their housing. These terms were initially controversial as critics voiced anger that residents did not have to stay sober.[6]
A study by the University of Washington showed a 35 percent reduction in heavy drinking among 1811 residents and a substantially reduced frequency of delirium tremens.[7] A 2006 study by the University of Washington found that 1811 Eastlake improved residents' lives and saved Seattle more than $2 million each year.[8]
Housing Firstedit
DESC partnered with Pathways to Housing to sponsor the first ever conference on the Housing First model of social services.[9]
^Rasmussen, Tom; Peter Steinbrueck (2005-02-16). "Council's homeless-services center option: cheaper, sooner, bigger". Online edition. The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
^"DESC: Housing & Health to End Homelessness". DESC: Housing & Health to End Homelessness.
^Martha R. Burt, Walter R. McDonald & Associates, Urban Institute, United States. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. "Strategies for reducing chronic street homelessness: final report". DIANE. pp. G.3. ISBN9781428985438. Retrieved 2009-09-18.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Hope, Majorie; James Young (January 18, 1984). . Christian Century: 48. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
^. Archived from the original on 2012-05-07. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
^Kowal, Jessica (2006-07-05). "Homeless Alcoholics Receive a Permanent Place to Live, and Drink". The New York Times.
downtown, emergency, service, center, desc, profit, organization, seattle, washington, providing, services, that, city, homeless, population, organization, founded, 1979, women, living, state, chronic, homelessness, their, severe, persistent, mental, addictive. The Downtown Emergency Service Center DESC is a non profit organization in Seattle Washington providing services for that city s homeless population 1 The organization was founded in 1979 to aid men and women living in a state of chronic homelessness who due to their severe and persistent mental and addictive illnesses were not being served by the existing shelters of the time At its opening the non profit sheltered nearly 200 adults from 7 p m to 7 a m in the ballroom of the Morrison Hotel Today DESC is a recognized national leader in homelessness services that specializes in shelters and supportive housing projects It operates under a Housing First model with a low barrier for entry into services DESC clients engage with mental health services case management and employment services at DESC projects DESC currently operates 5 shelters and 15 supportive housing projects and is largely funded by the City of Seattle and King County 2 Downtown Emergency Service CenterPurposeHomelessnessHeadquartersSeattle Washington U S Websitehttps www desc org Contents 1 Mission 2 History 3 Innovation 3 1 1811 Eastlake project 3 2 Housing First 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksMission editDESC 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 housingHistory editIn the late 1970s Seattle s Downtown Human Service Council Group expressed concern to Seattle s mayor that there were increases in homelessness and that the mentally ill were not getting the services they needed 3 Because of these concerns the City of Seattle the Church Council of Seattle and WAMI Washington Advocates for the Mentally Ill partnered to open the center in 1979 4 DESC was given the 2012 non profit sector achievement award by the National Alliance to End Homelessness 5 Innovation edit1811 Eastlake project edit DESC designed and developed the 1811 Eastlake project to house up to 75 formerly homeless alcoholics Residents in this housing project are permitted to possess and consume alcohol in their rooms and are not required to enroll in treatment as a condition of their housing These terms were initially controversial as critics voiced anger that residents did not have to stay sober 6 A study by the University of Washington showed a 35 percent reduction in heavy drinking among 1811 residents and a substantially reduced frequency of delirium tremens 7 A 2006 study by the University of Washington found that 1811 Eastlake improved residents lives and saved Seattle more than 2 million each year 8 Housing First edit DESC partnered with Pathways to Housing to sponsor the first ever conference on the Housing First model of social services 9 See also editHousing First Homelessness in the United StatesReferences edit Rasmussen Tom Peter Steinbrueck 2005 02 16 Council s homeless services center option cheaper sooner bigger Online edition The Seattle Times Retrieved 2009 09 16 DESC Housing amp Health to End Homelessness DESC Housing amp Health to End Homelessness Martha R Burt Walter R McDonald amp Associates Urban Institute United States Dept of Housing and Urban Development Strategies for reducing chronic street homelessness final report DIANE pp G 3 ISBN 9781428985438 Retrieved 2009 09 18 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Hope Majorie James Young January 18 1984 The Homeless On the Street on the Road Christian Century 48 Archived from the original on June 15 2010 Retrieved September 17 2009 NAEH Annual Awards Ceremony Archived from the original on 2012 05 07 Retrieved 2012 07 03 Kowal Jessica 2006 07 05 Homeless Alcoholics Receive a Permanent Place to Live and Drink The New York Times http portlandtribune com news story php story id 132813852542119100 dead link Vanderkam Laura 2008 04 28 Give them homes USA Today pp 9A Retrieved 2009 09 18 Housing First Conference in New Orleans brings leaders together to improve share this successful model News Media Center United States Interagency Council on Homelessness USICH Usich gov 2012 03 26 Archived from the original on 2012 04 29 Retrieved 2012 06 01 External links editOfficial website DESC Profile from Action Without Borders Grantee information from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Downtown Emergency Service Center amp oldid 1210863770, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
