King County and City of Seattle partner on region’s second Crisis Care Center location

Summary: Following a letter of conditi

onal support from Mayor Bruce Harrell outlining a launch plan, Executive Shannon Braddock submitted a proposal to the King County Council to open the second Crisis Care Center in the region.

Story

Today, King County Executive Shannon Braddock and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced next steps for a Crisis Care Center in Seattle providing behavioral health care for people experiencing a mental health, drug, or alcohol crisis. The facility would be located at the former Polyclinic building at 1145 Broadway.

King County voters approved the Crisis Care Centers Initiative in 2023 to create five centers across the region where anyone can walk in for behavioral health and substance use care.

In recent years, King County has seen a significant increase in demand for crisis services, driven by rising rates of behavioral health conditions and substance use disorders, and the ongoing fentanyl crisis. These centers will provide immediate help, connections to ongoing care, and a safe, stable place to recover that’s available to everyone — regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

The facility in Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood would serve the central region as part of a new, countywide network of five crisis centers. The county established its first center last year with Connections Kirkland, serving North King County communities.

“Collaboration across our region made this major step toward expanding crisis services possible,” said Executive Braddock. “From the start, King County has worked hand-in-hand with communities across the region, including Seattle, to increase access to behavioral health treatment and services. The City of Seattle’s partnership is a strong example of how local governments can come together to make care accessible. By engaging residents, first responders, local organizations, and businesses, we’ve heard loud and clear the urgent need for immediate care. We know treatment works — we just need more of it.”

“This Crisis Care Center will serve as a remedy for suffering and disorder we too frequently see on our streets — it means more effective treatment to help people recover,” said Mayor Harrell. “As we continue our work to support those in need, create community safety, and revitalize the health and vitality of this neighborhood and our entire city, ensuring this location is a success will require the comprehensive approach we have advocated for. This is an important next step in the City’s public health effort — building on the monumental gains we’ve made through the CARE Department’s behavioral health alternative response, SFD’s Health 99 team, and record investments in substance use treatment and post-overdose care.”

Per the letter of support sent by Mayor Harrell, the City of Seattle will partner with King County to implement effective mitigation strategies to ensure the facility can be opened and operated without any unintended negative impact on the surrounding community. These mitigation strategies include conducting a safety assessment, implementing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design recommendations to prevent disorder, and creating a plan for maintaining the safety and cleanliness of surrounding exterior spaces. The requirements are similar to efforts taken by the city and county when DESC successfully opened the STAR Center downtown.

Over the past four months, King County has held more than 40 presentations and community conversations with First Hill and Capitol Hill residents, organizations, businesses, hospitals, and first responders.

First Responders and medical professionals have shared that this location will relieve the current strain on emergency rooms and help them do their jobs.

“Hospital emergency departments are overwhelmed and too often become a revolving door, seeing countless people in crisis — who can’t get the care they need — end up in painful, endless cycles,” said Amy Dodgion, LICSW, Senior Manager of Behavioral Health in Acute Care with Providence Swedish. “This new Crisis Care Center will be a lifeline to our neighborhood and surrounding communities and give people the behavioral health care they need, when they need it. This is how we get folks on a path to recovery and help alleviate hospitals that are often stretched thin.”

“As a physician and interim president of Virginia Mason Medical Center, I see the lasting impacts of patients coming to us in crisis,” said David Tupponce, M.D., Interim President of Virginia Mason Medical Center. “We remain committed to providing the highest quality of care to all we serve and we also know there are limits to what we can provide here in the hospital and in our emergency department. The Crisis Care Center will fill a critical gap in our community and ensure support is available to those who need it most.”

According to county officials, the site is well-positioned for success because it includes:

-Existing Infrastructure: The building was previously owned by Polyclinic/Optum and has the medical infrastructure needed to speed up opening.

-Zoning & Square Footage: It also has the right square footage and is zoned for a health care facility with the ability to connect to other medical services.

-Central Location: It is in a central location near major transportation corridors and three hospital emergency departments, making referrals and first responder drop-off convenient.

The City of Seattle and King County are committed to working together to ensure the location is effectively opened and improves street conditions, and that local residents, organizations, and businesses continue to be heard. Community listening sessions and launch planning will continue to help ensure the success of the site, patients and community support, and sustainable operations. A Good Neighbor Agreement and Community Advisory Board will also be put in place to facilitate ongoing collaboration and guidance.

The King County Council now has 30 days to act on the purchase and sale agreement. If approved, the purchase would close by the end of December 2025, with the center expected to open by the end of 2027.

To learn more about the levy and upcoming community engagement opportunities, visit the Crisis Care Centers Initiative website.