Commissioner Brim-Edwards and Chair Jessica Vega Pederson shared updates with City partners this week on the 24/7 Sobering & Stabilization Center that is expected to open mid-year 2026. Early in the week, they briefed Mayor Wilson on the urgently needed sobering beds coming online in Multnomah County. The partnership with the City of Portland and the City’s elected leadership has been integral to standing up and operating these resources. The Mayor offered positive feedback and a message of action and continued partnership - all good news!
Yesterday, Commissioner Brim-Edwards and Chair Vega Pederson also met with business leaders through the Portland Metro Chamber to brief them on the project and recent milestones. The Chamber has consistently championed the opening of a permanent Sobering Center and as an important resource to improve community safety and to better support individuals in need of immediate care. The discussion with business and non-profit leaders was robust and concluded with questions of ways in which businesses and organizations can support the ongoing work.
The 24/7 Sobering & Stabilization Center Plan was originally created with Commissioner Brim-Edwards and the Core Sobering Group - a group of diverse public safety and health experts - after the Board adopted $150,000 in fall 2023 for planning and development of a sobering center to replace the desperately needed capacity lost by the closing of the sobering center in 2019. This plan was updated to include withdrawal management beds and was recently presented to the Board, where feedback was received from the new commissioners as they received their first public briefing on the 24/7 Sobering & Crisis Stabilization Center Plan.
This spring, 13 sobering beds will become available to first responders to drop-off individuals at the Coordinated Care Pathway Center. It is an important first step in increasing resources first responders can use as an alternative to jail, emergency departments, or leaving individuals on the street.
The permanent site for use by first responders for the 24/7 Sobering & Crisis Stabilization Center is targeted to open fall 2026 in inner southeast Portland. The location of the permanent site would replace the Coordinated Care Pathway Center, and deflection services will then move from the Coordinate Care Pathway Center location to the new permanent 24/7 Sobering & Crisis Stabilization site that will include both sobering and withdrawal management services.
Integral to the plan for the permanent center is robust community engagement and a Good Neighbor Agreement that effectively executes our shared goals for the community and operation of this site. The first community meeting for the site will be scheduled for March. Stay tuned. For more information on the project, engagement opportunities and to sign up for updates visit the 24/7 Sobering & Stabilization Center project website.