People experiencing long-term homelessness are often living with disabling conditions like severe mental health challenges, chronic pain, and substance use disorders. To address people’s complex needs and end homelessness, we need comprehensive, coordinated care that meets people where they are.
That’s why DESC is proud to be opening three new resources on Third Avenue in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood in 2025. These efforts will help people in crisis, connect them to care, and provide a pathway off the streets and into permanent housing. They will also improve conditions on Third Avenue and promote public safety.
STAR Center
Our STAR (Stability Through Access and Resources) Center, opening by the end of March 2025, will be a 24/7, behavioral health-focused, non-congregate shelter. The center will serve as an entry point for people living unsheltered with significant mental health and substance use disorders. Guests will have access to services like medication for opioid and other substance-use disorders, outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment services, and social services. On-site staff will assist guests in navigating access to long-term housing and healthcare options.
Located at 619 3rd Ave., the shelter will replace the former St. Charles apartments and provide accommodation for up to 85 people. Guests must be referred, with referrals coming from staff at DESC’s new opioid recovery center (ORCA), DESC mobile crisis teams, first responders, and other outreach teams and service providers.
Enhanced behavioral health clinic
A block south on the second floor of the Morrison Hotel will be DESC’s new behavioral health clinic, relocated from its current location at 216 James St. The new facility will act as a centralized hub for medical care, mental health support, and substance use disorder treatment for people enrolled in services. Clients will have a place to rest, attend to basic first aid needs, enjoy warm meals, wash their laundry, and take showers. They will have access to certified peer counselors who will work with them and their clinical care team to create recovery goals.
ORCA Center
The new behavioral health clinic will also house DESC’s innovative Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center. Here, people who overdose in King County will be stabilized, receive care, start on buprenorphine or methadone as medically appropriate, and connect to resources to continue their recovery.
After clients are stabilized, rather than returning to the streets, they’ll have the opportunity to be referred to the STAR Center where they can continue their recovery while pursuing a path into permanent housing and out of homelessness.
Additionally, people with an opioid use disorder who have not recently overdosed will be able to walk in during certain hours to discuss starting medication treatment. By providing much-needed services such as medications for opioid use disorder, access to harm reduction supplies, education, and other services, DESC aims to prevent overdoses and cut down on emergency room use.
The STAR Center, new behavioral health clinic, and ORCA Center are the result of years of hard work and investment by DESC, our funders, and agency partners. Together, these facilities will create a healthcare and resource hub on Third Avenue for our most vulnerable community members. Designed to work together, the clinic, its overdose recovery center, and STAR shelter will provide comprehensive care for our clients that is coordinated across sites and teams.