A new facility aimed at providing services for Seattle’s homeless, especially those battling mental health and substance abuse issues, is set to open its doors in downtown Seattle early next year. Known as the Stability Through Access and Resources (STAR) Center, the project is the brainchild of the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC).
The center, which will be located at 619 Third Ave, is expected to house up to 85 individuals. It comes as a response to the closure of DESC's Navigation Center in the Chinatown-International District, which is concerning for some due to its status as a "low barrier" facility with minimal rules for entry. KOMO News reported DESC Executive Director Daniel Malone saying, "STAR Center will provide a pathway off the streets, into care, and ultimately out of homelessness for some of our most vulnerable neighbors."
DESC also announced last week the plan to unveil three new programs on Third Avenue in the Pioneer Square neighborhood by 2025. The STAR Center itself is set to occupy the location of the former St. Charles apartments, as per information provided by the DJC. This dedicated 24/7 behavioral health-focused shelter is expected to open by the end of March 2025 to assist unsheltered individuals experiencing serious mental health and substance use challenges.
The initiative is being backed both by the City of Seattle and King County, overseen by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. "Just as the region needs emergency rooms and primary care, we need both shelter and housing to meet the scale of need," King County Executive Dow Constantine elaborated. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell was also vocal about the STAR Center's promising future, stating, "The STAR Center will offer a new approach to enhanced shelter that is not only a space to bring indoors our most vulnerable neighbors – it is also a place that provides them with the care and services they need to heal and find stability," as per a DESC press release.
With its mission squarely focused on the intersection of homelessness with mental health and substance abuse, the STAR Center aims to serve as a comprehensive solution for those in dire need of support and a pathway back to stability in Seattle. The facility seeks to be an integral part of a broader strategy that includes expanded behavioral health responders and improved access to treatment and recovery services in the city. The combined effort of DESC, local government, and regional authorities promises an innovative and compassionate approach to addressing the urgent homelessness crisis facing the community.
