Burien Council Member Calls DESC’s Integrity into Question—What’s the Real Story Behind the Staggering Numbers?

Burien Council Member Stephanie Mora is taking a hard look at the Downtown Emergency Service Center and its homeless facility, and let’s just say she’s not impressed. With over 600 police responses logged this year alone, Mora has come out swinging on “The John Curley Show,” declaring that DESC’s promises to provide wraparound services have turned into what she calls a “big fat lie.” It’s a bold statement, especially as the city tries to navigate this complex issue of homelessness.

Mora highlighted that the DESC facility has seen multiple drug overdoses recently, pointing out that the current “housing first” approach is simply not working. Her criticism is sharp and clear: if people can’t even get proper treatment first, how can they expect to thrive in a housing situation? It’s a fair point, given that Mora believes enabling addiction isn’t helping anyone—quite the opposite, actually. Imagine trying to put a roof over someone’s head while they’re dealing with addiction outside. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

So, what does Mora propose? She suggests that treatment should come before housing, making a compelling case for a complete overhaul of how services are offered. If only we could all live in a world where healthy lifestyle choices come with a side of a cozy apartment, right? We’ve got to wonder, though: are we really doing enough to support our most vulnerable community members? Let’s chat about how we can better balance the scales.

What do you think? Should treatment come before housing? Or is there another way to address this complicated issue?

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