The Board of County Commissioners received an update Tuesday, Jan. 21, on the development of a 24/7 Sobering and Crisis Stabilization Center in Multnomah County. The briefing, led by leaders from the Health Department and the Department of County Assets, outlined progress in finding a building, engaging with neighbors and creating a plan for services.
The Sobering and Crisis Stabilization Center will provide a permanent, 24-hour alternative to emergency departments and jails for people experiencing substance use disorder. Once completed, the center will offer sobering services, withdrawal management, and crisis stabilization for up to 50 people at a time. It will serve people dropped off by first responders, law enforcement and, eventually, community providers.
“This facility will provide sobering and withdrawal management services and be the permanent location for Multnomah County’s deflection center, helping to divert people from jail and hospital emergency departments,” Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said. “It will be a cornerstone of our commitment as a County and a community to meeting people where they are and helping them find their next steps.”
On Jan. 9, 2025, the County announced it had signed a purchase agreement for a property at 1901 S.E. Grand Ave. in Portland, which will serve as the home of the permanent sobering center. The purchase is expected to close this spring, after the completion of a due-diligence phase.
Scott Edwards Architecture is finalizing the center’s design. The center will include sobering recliners, withdrawal management beds, private intake areas, and spaces for counseling and care coordination.
The center is part of a broader effort under House Bill 4002 to implement deflection programs statewide, in order to divert individuals in crisis away from jails and emergency rooms. These programs provide immediate support and connection to long-term care.
Since October 2024, the County’s Coordinated Care Pathway Center has been operating as a hub for deflection services. It offers screenings, professional peer support, and access to basic needs resources. Phase 2 of the Pathway Center, scheduled to launch in spring 2025, will expand to include up to 13 sobering beds.
“We believe this model will integrate sobering services within the broader behavioral health continuum, ensuring a seamless transition to the expanded services offered in the new facility,” said Anthony Jordan, the County’s Addiction Services Manager.
A person-centered approach
The Sobering and Crisis Stabilization Center plan is rooted in years of planning and collaboration among community stakeholders, including behavioral health professionals, law enforcement, and advocacy groups.
Since taking office, Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards has helped lead the development of the plan. "This plan reflects the expertise, experience and leadership of the Core Sobering Group, a group that represents a diversity of public safety and health, and provider backgrounds,” Commissioner Brim-Edwards said. “It is critical we continue moving forward quickly to stand up the 24/7 Sobering and Crisis Stabilization Center for first responders to provide individuals an alternative to jail, emergency departments, or leaving them on the streets."
The County’s vision for the center prioritizes trauma-informed care and equity. Peers — trained service providers with lived experience — and culturally specific providers are involved in every step of the project.
As the project is implemented, board members underscored the need to focus on the needs of the people who will receive services at the center. Commissioner Meghan Moyer emphasized a “one person, one assessment, one plan” approach that understands people’s behavioral health needs.
“Many people who are going to come through those doors maybe experience both mental illness and substance use, which we know can be prevalent, particularly people who are experiencing crisis,” Commissioner Moyer said.
Commissioner Shannon Singleton encouraged project leaders to close gaps between the behavioral health and homeless service systems because the center is expected to serve people experiencing homelessness.
“I continue to see gaps between what I’m seeing in behavioral health and what we’re experiencing in homeless services,” Commissioner Singleton said. “I want us to take this opportunity on the front end to close those because it will serve the people that are spinning through both of our systems and continue to be back in a shelter or on the streets.”
Engaging the community
Community engagement remains a top priority as the project moves forward. During the briefing, the County outlined a phased approach to engaging residents, businesses, and other stakeholders.
Phase 1, underway now, involves outreach to neighborhoods within a half-mile radius of the site. The County plans to distribute informational flyers, host a public meeting in March, and launch a Good Neighbor Advisory Group to ensure ongoing dialogue with the community.
Phase 2 will focus on creating a Good Neighbor Agreement in collaboration with residents and local businesses. The County will also work closely with law enforcement, hospitals, and providers to refine operational plans.
As the project advances, the County remains focused on transparency and accountability. Regular updates to the Board of County Commissioners are planned for March and June 2025.
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with services expected to launch in phases, projected for 2026.
For updates on the Sobering and Crisis Stabilization Center, visit multco.us/sobering-center.
