Why do people pass away when they live at 22 North?

Katie Rose2024-07-29T20:51:09-07:00

Everyone at 22 North has also been homeless for at least a year, shortening their lifespan by an average 17-23 years and resulting often in complex health needs. People are often moving with these conditions into their apartments after years of little to no healthcare, nutritious food, or safe shelter. It is expected that people pass away more frequently in Permanent Supportive Housing programs, and that these programs have higher mortality rates than average apartments. We understand well this may be the last home many of our residents have. Providing care and community for others is always a privilege, especially when we can ensure they have a home when they pass.

However, it is also important to note that 22 North Residents are also among the frontline victims of our converging housing and synthetic drug crises. While the majority of residents residing at 22 North do not have a substance use disorder (SUD), there is a higher percentage of people with SUD living at 22 North (34% of residents on average) than there is in the general population (17.3%). Synthetic drugs like fentanyl are cheap, incredibly addictive, and astoundingly deadly. There has been a 200% increase in total overdose deaths in Washington State since 2018 (the year 22 North opened).

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