NEWS RELEASE: Multnomah County expands referral access to 24/7 sobering services

Expansion allows first responders, behavioral health providers to make sobering referrals immediately

Portland, Ore. (June 25, 2025) — Multnomah County is announcing an expansion in referral access to its 24/7 sobering stations at the temporary Coordinated Care Pathway Center, located at 900 S.E. Sandy Blvd. Effective Tuesday, June 24, the County is broadening referral pathways to five partners with experience delivering behavioral health care services. Previously, only law enforcement officers offering people deflection were able to refer for sobering services. The change opens that pathway to sobering services to street outreach teams working for specific providers.

"Increasing access to sobering services for additional providers is another way Multnomah County is actively adding to our continuum of care and increasing access to recovery resources,” said Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “Co-locating sobering and deflection at the Coordinated Care Pathway Center is increasing our effectiveness and providing a singular location where individuals begin or further their recovery journey.”

"Opening access to sobering resources to trusted community organizations and non-law enforcement partners is a meaningful step toward expanding sobering, addiction treatment and recovery services, which we know are urgently needed and long-overdue," Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards said. "We have heard from first responders that the sobering beds provide safe alternatives to jail, emergency departments or just leaving people on the street, so we're thankful that law enforcement and organizations already engaged with street outreach have a 24/7 resource available to connect more people to services and onto a path into shelter and stable housing."

The new referral partnerships include:

“4D Recovery is excited to begin utilizing the Pathway Center to support individuals struggling with addiction through our deflection and homeless outreach efforts,” said Tony Vezina, the co-founder and executive director of 4D Recovery. “This new partnership will expand access to on-demand services, significantly reducing or even eliminating waitlist times for some of the individuals we serve.”

This milestone follows the launch of 13 sobering stations in April 2025 and the start of 24/7 operations. This phased approach aims to broaden access to the program and gather important insights for the development and programming of a permanent Sobering and Crisis Stabilization Center at 1901 S.E. Grand Ave.

The expansion is enabling more City of Portland teams to have access to these critical resources, making the City’s promised investment in this part of our continuum of care all the more needed and vital. In a letter to Multnomah County in July 2024, Portland Police Chief Bob Day wrote, "The greatest need is for a safe and secure location where police can transport people who are displaying signs of intoxication and are unable to care for themselves or are a danger to themselves or others.”

The Coordinated Care Pathway Center's sobering stations offer a crucial alternative to jail and emergency rooms for people experiencing acute intoxication — providing a direct pathway to recovery services around the clock. The new center fills a gap in crisis care that had existed since the 2019 closure of the City of Portland’s sobering center, providing a low-barrier drop-off location for first responders.

Multnomah County’s work developing its permanent Sobering & Crisis Stabilization Center remains ongoing. The center will provide up to 50 sobering and withdrawal management stations by fall 2027. The County is actively engaging with neighbors as part of the planning process for this future treatment center.

Board quotes:

“We are excited to make this resource available to our partner organizations,” said Commissioner Meghan Moyer, whose district includes the site of both the temporary and the future permanent sobering centers.

“As someone who has done homelessness outreach and social work, it is important that we expand access to these critical services,” said Commissioner Shannon Singleton. “I am happy the staff has found a way to expand referral access to the sobering center. It is important we recognize ways to lower barriers for care and treatment. I am regularly asking for expanded access for our homeless services providers and hope to see further expansion in the near future."

“These partnerships are key to building a deflection system that produces successful outcomes for our neighbors struggling with addiction and often homelessness,” said Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon. “I look forward to continuing these collaborations and forwarding other innovations that will increase these individuals' access to recovery and other support services.”

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