Ballmer Group Awards $15 Million in Grants to Seattle/King County Organizations Supporting the Most Vulnerable People Experiencing Homelessness
Funding will provide flexible support to three recognized organizations
Ballmer Group has announced it is furthering its commitment to addressing homelessness in King County through three new grants, awarding $3 million each to the Chief Seattle Club and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, and $9 million to the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC). Grant funding will provide flexible support to these recognized organizations in their continued work to provide housing, healthcare, and services to the region’s most vulnerable populations.
Andi Smith, Executive Director, Washington & National Behavioral Health at Ballmer Group, said, “These grants represent the next step in Ballmer Group’s contribution to addressing homelessness in King County. Each of these organizations is a proven expert in the field, each serving unique populations. Ballmer Group is excited to support them in providing housing and critical services to our unsheltered neighbors.”
Organizations addressing homelessness in Seattle and King County play a critical role in supporting some of the community’s most vulnerable individuals. Many of these groups, from health service providers to housing support agencies, deliver comprehensive and responsive care, meeting people where they are and addressing the unique challenges they face. Supporting these organizations is crucial to establishing a comprehensive regional homelessness response system that provides both immediate relief and long-term stability for those in need.
- The Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC). In Seattle and King County, individuals experiencing mental and physical health challenges are among the most vulnerable within the homelessness response system. DESC provides comprehensive services, including emergency housing, crisis diversion, on-site medical, street outreach, permanent supportive housing, case management, employment support, and behavioral health treatment to King County’s most vulnerable single adults through a nationally recognized interwoven network of care, housing, and support. DESC is a national leader in the Housing First field, managing over 1,400 supportive housing apartments for people at the deepest end of the acuity spectrum. Each year, they serve over 9000 unique clients and have been recognized for their excellent responsive behavioral health treatment in their facilities, through their mobile teams, and in partnership with healthcare systems, including Harborview Medical Center.
- Chief Seattle Club (CSC). CSC’s Day Center, located in the Pioneer Square district of downtown Seattle, offers food, primary healthcare, housing assistance, legal services, a Native art job training program, and opportunities for members to engage in cultural community-building. resulting in some of the best outcomes for individuals transitioning out of homelessness. CSC has increasingly expanded its scope and services in the homeless/housing space and is currently the fourth largest provider of permanent supportive housing in King County.
- Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS). Since 2018, ULMS has developed a comprehensive suite of housing services, including robust outreach and engagement programs for individuals and families living unsheltered. They also operate a youth shelter that serves young men exiting the juvenile justice and foster care systems, as well as safe parking programs for those living in vehicles. ULMS recently partnered with local governments to develop and manage permanent supportive housing in Seattle and Federal Way, further solidifying its role in addressing housing needs.