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New South Seattle development integrates comprehensive health care, low income housing

SEATTLE — Integrating health care with low income housing is at the core of a new development under construction in South Seattle.

The $80 million project is called “Hobson Place.” Located off 22nd Avenue, it will offer 177 furnished studio apartments for people currently experiencing chronic homelessness.

This is the latest development by the Downtown Emergency Service Center or “DESC,” the non-profit that has built over a dozen supportive housing for the homeless or formerly homeless in Seattle over the last 25 years.

But what’s unique about this newest development is that it will also house a comprehensive community clinic, staffed in part by Harborview Medical Center’s doctors and nurses.

“It will be a fully integrated physical and behavioral health care clinic that is targeted to the needs of this particular population that does have high needs,” said Daniel Malone, executive director of DESC.

Project developers believe that integration will encourage people with mental issues to also seek care for their physical ailments and vice-versa.

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The clinic will not only serve tenants at Hobson Place, but also thousands of people in the community each year.

For patients without Medicaid, Harborview would cover those health care costs.

The hope though is that the clinic would help put less strain on the emergency room.

“Because that is the safety net and what we want to do through this collaboration is redefining what the safety net looks like,” said Paul Hayes, executive director of Harborview Medical Center.

The Hobson Place project is expected to finish construction of the first phase by sometime next year.

The entire development, including the clinic, is set to be completed by summer of 2021.