Will Stone

These were people who were the most disabled by mental illness and addiction and could not abide by the rules of Treatment First. So they always ended up back on the streets. That's when some innovators decided to take a big risk and try just housing them and then bringing the treatment to them in their new apartments. And this was the birth of Housing First.

These were people who were the most disabled by mental illness and addiction and could not abide by the rules of Treatment First. So they always ended up back on the streets. That's when some innovators decided to take a big risk and try just housing them and then bringing the treatment to them in their new apartments. And this was the birth of Housing First.

These were people who were the most disabled by mental illness and addiction and could not abide by the rules of Treatment First. So they always ended up back on the streets. That's when some innovators decided to take a big risk and try just housing them and then bringing the treatment to them in their new apartments. And this was the birth of Housing First.

And here's where Seattle enters the story in a big way. In 2005, a Seattle nonprofit called the Downtown Emergency Service Center, DESC, planned to open a building with 75 apartments for people who had been homeless for years and addicted to alcohol. At that point, Housing First had mostly been focused on people whose main health problem was mental illness and who often had addiction on the side.

And here's where Seattle enters the story in a big way. In 2005, a Seattle nonprofit called the Downtown Emergency Service Center, DESC, planned to open a building with 75 apartments for people who had been homeless for years and addicted to alcohol. At that point, Housing First had mostly been focused on people whose main health problem was mental illness and who often had addiction on the side.

And here's where Seattle enters the story in a big way. In 2005, a Seattle nonprofit called the Downtown Emergency Service Center, DESC, planned to open a building with 75 apartments for people who had been homeless for years and addicted to alcohol. At that point, Housing First had mostly been focused on people whose main health problem was mental illness and who often had addiction on the side.

But DESC's project was gonna test Housing First for people whose main health problem was alcoholism. This blew up into a national news story, and it remains probably the most famous and controversial example of Housing First in US history.

But DESC's project was gonna test Housing First for people whose main health problem was alcoholism. This blew up into a national news story, and it remains probably the most famous and controversial example of Housing First in US history.

But DESC's project was gonna test Housing First for people whose main health problem was alcoholism. This blew up into a national news story, and it remains probably the most famous and controversial example of Housing First in US history.

Anyone who moved into 1811 East Lake was not required to participate in any kind of treatment for alcoholism. It was there if they wanted it, but they could also just keep drinking.

Anyone who moved into 1811 East Lake was not required to participate in any kind of treatment for alcoholism. It was there if they wanted it, but they could also just keep drinking.

Anyone who moved into 1811 East Lake was not required to participate in any kind of treatment for alcoholism. It was there if they wanted it, but they could also just keep drinking.

Why don't we have call-in shows anymore? This is good radio.

Why don't we have call-in shows anymore? This is good radio.

Why don't we have call-in shows anymore? This is good radio.

The person these callers were angry at was Bill Hobson. He ran DESC at the time, and he was one of the country's most enthusiastic adopters of Housing First.

The person these callers were angry at was Bill Hobson. He ran DESC at the time, and he was one of the country's most enthusiastic adopters of Housing First.

The person these callers were angry at was Bill Hobson. He ran DESC at the time, and he was one of the country's most enthusiastic adopters of Housing First.

Daniel Malone runs DESC today, and he worked under Bill back then.

Daniel Malone runs DESC today, and he worked under Bill back then.