Downtown Emergency Service Center
Seattle, WA Doing business as Desc
- UEI
- PD2ZQH21GQK1
- CAGE
- 38AF9
- SAM.gov registration
- Active through
Company facts
- Self-certified in SAM.gov
- Entity structure
- Corporate Entity (Tax Exempt)
- NAICS codes registered in SAM.gov
-
- 621420 Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers Primary
- 531110 Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings
- 621330 Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians)
- 623220 Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities
- 624120 Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities
- 624221 Temporary Shelters
- 624229 Other Community Housing Services
- 624310 Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- SAM.gov registration date
- Physical address
- 515 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Website
- desc.org
- Founded
- 1979
- Employees
- 251-1K
- Estimated annual revenue
- $100M-$250M
- Industry
-
- Consumer Discretionary
- Consumer Services
- Diversified Consumer Services
- Specialized Consumer Services
- SIC code
- 86 Membership Organizations
Registration and certifications come from SAM.gov and the SBA; company details from public web sources. Updated .
Recent federal awards
| Award | Agency | Obligated | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vulnerability assessment tool assertive engagement training for HUD-vash employees | Veterans Integrated Service Network 22 | $8,000 | |
| Purpose: the continuum of care (COC) program is designed to promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending… | Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development | $639,462 | |
| Purpose: the continuum of care (COC) program is designed to promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending… | Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development | $629,245 | |
| Purpose: permanent housing for individuals with HIV; activities to be performed: permanent housing services; expected… | Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development | $587,843 | |
| Continuum of care program | Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development | $582,127 |
About Downtown Emergency Service Center
Downtown Emergency Service Center, doing business as DESC, is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that operates as a prime recipient of federal grants for permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and supportive services targeting individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders. DESC holds no federal contracts; its entire federal footprint consists of grant awards from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Health and Human Services, with DESC acting as prime recipient on 61% of recent awards and as sub-recipient on 39%.
DESC's grant portfolio is heavily concentrated with HUD's Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, which accounts for 20 awards across the recent footprint and represents the dominant funder. The next-largest customers are the Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (3 awards), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2 awards), and HUD's Assistant Secretary for Housing Federal Housing Commissioner (2 awards). The top customer agencies cover 70% of awards by count. HUD's Continuum of Care Program (CFDA 14.267) is the primary vehicle, funding recurring annual project grants for housing and supportive services; DESC received a $639,462 CoC award effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and prior-year CoC grants in fiscal 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022. DESC also holds a formula grant under HUD for permanent housing services for low-income persons with HIV (award date April 16, 2025, completion June 15, 2028) and received $3.37 million in Community Development Block Grant funding from the City of Seattle for Morrison Hotel renovation and improvements (April 14, 2025).
DESC's recent activity has accelerated. Awards per year climbed from one in 2022 to nine in 2025, with two awards already recorded in 2026. Combined dollars obligated across the entire award portfolio total $37.1 million. Only two awards face ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, indicating limited near-term recompete pressure. As a sub-recipient, DESC participates in federal grant work flowing through state and local intermediaries, including the Health Care Authority and King County (sub-awards for medication-assisted treatment expansion and mental health services), the University of Washington (research and data initiatives on opioid overdose reduction), and a $160 thousand sub-grant for reporting software platform implementation. DESC's core capability delivery focuses on the Housing First model — pairing permanent housing with integrated case management, primary care nursing, behavioral health treatment, assisted employment, and twenty-four-hour staffing — exemplified by facilities including the Kerner-Scott House, a women's shelter and permanent supportive housing project undergoing multiphase federal-funded renovation.
Quick answers
What is Downtown Emergency Service Center's UEI?
Downtown Emergency Service Center's Unique Entity ID (UEI) in SAM.gov is PD2ZQH21GQK1.
What is Downtown Emergency Service Center's CAGE code?
Downtown Emergency Service Center's CAGE code is 38AF9.
What is Downtown Emergency Service Center's primary NAICS code?
Downtown Emergency Service Center's primary NAICS code is 621420 (Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers).
Where is Downtown Emergency Service Center located?
Downtown Emergency Service Center's physical address in SAM.gov is 515 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
Is Downtown Emergency Service Center registered in SAM.gov?
Yes. Downtown Emergency Service Center's SAM.gov registration is active through November 6, 2026.
What is Downtown Emergency Service Center's most recent federal award?
Downtown Emergency Service Center's most recent federal contract award is Vulnerability assessment tool assertive engagement training for HUD-vash employees (36C26226P1516), from Veterans Integrated Service Network 22, on September 1, 2026.
On GovTribe
See Downtown Emergency Service Center's full federal record
- Federal contract awards
- Federal grant awards
- Funding analysis by agency, NAICS and set-aside
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