‘A big fat lie’: Burien council member slams DESC-run facility over lack of treatment

Burien Council Member Stephanie Mora called out the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) for not upholding its promises with the city regarding a DESC-operated homeless facility.

The building has seen over 600 police responses just this year, according to Mora.

“As time has progressed, this has only been open for a year now, and I’m starting to see that everything that they said to us was a big fat lie,” Mora said on “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

Mora explained that DESC told the Burien City Council it offers wraparound services and that the Burien facility would not face the same issues as a shelter in Seattle — which closed due to allegedly being a crime hotspot.

“They were very much telling us that this was going to be different,” Mora said. “We weren’t going to be having as much police activity like Seattle has, and we were also going to start seeing people improving their lives because they have or they offer wraparound services for people that are willing to get off of the substances that are affecting them, or if they have a mental health issue.”

Burien council member calls out overdoses at DESC-run facility

Last week, a man and a woman both died from drug overdoses while staying at the shelter, according to Mora.

“That, to me, is a massive failure. DESC is very much in favor of housing first, and I think it’s time that people start seeing that housing first is not the best option. It’s failing our community, and it’s failing the people that need the services so desperately, and instead of asking for help, they are being enabled,” she said.

Mora added that DESC offers drug kits with the intention of stopping overdoses, but said, “That’s not what we’re seeing right now in Burien.”

She said in the way it was presented to the Burien City Council, she was under the impression that DESC would offer people treatment to get off of substance abuse or get into mental health services. However, that’s not what the council is seeing.

“We’re not seeing DESC pushing people to take services or accept help. We are just seeing people outside, getting high. We’re seeing drug deals outside,” Mora remarked.

She added that there have been at least 14 overdoses reported at the DESC-operated shelter.

“I think DESC needs to move away from housing first,” Mora shared. “This has unfortunately been a deadly consequence to this failed system of housing first. I would like them to turn their facility into — ‘You want an apartment, you have to go through treatment first. This apartment will be waiting for you when you leave your treatment center and in completion of it.’ I think it has to be both ways.”

MyNorthwest has reached out to DESC.

Listen to the full conversation below.

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