When King County voters approved the Crisis Care Centers Initiative in 2023, they asked for urgent and accessible behavioral health care in every part of our region. Today, this initiative is ushering in one of the largest investments in our history so that everyone has someone to call (988), someone to respond (mobile rapid response crisis teams), somewhere to go (Crisis Care Centers) and someone to follow up (post-crisis care).
Already, we’re delivering on this commitment. The first Crisis Care Center in Kirkland is open. And we’ve made significant investments in crisis services like 988, mobile rapid response crisis teams, long-term treatment facilities, and the behavioral health workforce.
Now, we’re working with urgency to open a Crisis Care Center in Seattle that will offer 24/7 walk-in mental health and substance use treatment and support regardless of a person’s insurance status. The proposed building is the former Polyclinic building, located at 1145 Broadway in First Hill. If the King County Council approves the purchase of this building on October 7, it will be converted into a Crisis Care Center that is expected to open by the end of 2027.
This acquisition is a critical opportunity to expand equitable, trauma-informed behavioral health care in a city where gaps in mental health and substance use services disproportionately harm marginalized and vulnerable communities. Many of our commissioners have worked directly with Seattle residents who would greatly benefit from having this center strategically located at the Polyclinic site.
– Seattle Human Rights Commission
Planning and Community Engagement
King County entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement in January and conducted due diligence to evaluate the building’s condition and viability, as we do with any building purchased by King County. In May, after the assessment was completed, we found the building suitable for a Crisis Care Center and began engaging community members, businesses, and residents.
Over the last six months, King County DCHS has hosted nearly 60 community conversations, presentations, walking tours and other events. The vast majority of what we heard aligns with voters’ support for the Crisis Care Center Initiative: People support this location and want a place to go and receive urgent behavioral health care.
After robust community engagement, King County Executive Shannon Braddock and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell jointly announced their support for the Broadway facility in August.
Here’s an overview of all the community engagement to date:
- Presentations: Held over 40+ presentations to neighborhood groups and organizations, including youth organizations, community-based organizations, the First Hill Improvement Association, Capitol Hill Community Council, First Hill hospitals and first responders, Seattle Public Libraries, Seattle LGBTQIA+, Human Rights and Women’s Commissions, and more.
- Community Conversations: Hosted 15 community conversations, attended by schools, businesses and residents, beginning with an in-person community conversation co-hosted with GSBA at Seattle University in May, with more than 75 people.
- Walking Tours: Joined walking tours with local residents around the neighborhood, and led tours at the first Crisis Care Center, Connections Kirkland.
- Individual Correspondence: In addition to events, DCHS responded to 80+ survey questions from the Capitol Hill Community Council, and received more than 90 emails to the CCC Levy inbox.
- Flyers: Distributed flyers at events, including town halls, the Juneteenth Festival, Seattle Central College’s 2025 President’s Day event, and through email outreach.
- Media Coverage: Information about the potential Seattle location appeared in more than 25 news stories, including in the Capitol Hill News Blog, The Seattle Times, The Stranger, The Urbanist, Converge Black Media Studios, KUOW, KING-5 TV, The Facts, and more.
“As the survivor of a mental health crisis, I know firsthand how essential these services are. But for those who believe themselves to not be in need of these services, it is important to note that this Crisis Care Center would increase the availability of first responders and lessen the burden on local emergency rooms, creating a safer Capitol Hill for us all.”
– Resident, Capitol Hill
What’s Next
King County is taking concrete action to address some of the concerns we have heard. As outlined in the Crisis Care Centers Implementation Plan and the City of Seattle’s letter of support, here’s what you can expect in the coming months:
- After the siting and provider selection process is completed, the selected Crisis Care Center operator will develop a Good Neighbor Policy that proactively manages relationships with the neighboring community members.
- King County will conduct a safety assessment—with the Seattle Police Department—which will result in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) recommendations being put in place, such as better lighting, clear sightlines, and security features to help ensure the building and surrounding area are safe, secure, and welcoming.
- King County will continue to support and prioritize community engagement throughout the Crisis Care Center Initiative to help inform the ongoing implementation, quality improvement, evaluation and performance measurement, and accountability of the levy. DCHS is also developing pathways for community members, especially those most affected by behavioral health inequities, to participate in the crisis care system’s design, implementation, and oversight. Once an operator is selected for this location, they will primarily lead community engagement efforts.
- The operator, once selected, will convene a community advisory board to collaborate with a range of partners and ensure that the center is responsive to the diverse and unique needs of the population it serves. This board supports program development and implementation, ensuring there are consistent and accessible opportunities to provide input on the degree to which Crisis Care Center services are, or are not, meeting community needs.
The development of the Good Neighbor Policy and the formation of the advisory board will start before the end of 2025.
This facility, at this location, makes sense on so many levels. Availability, location, access to transit… Six months ago, during my partner’s first severe episode in their life, after being “in it” a couple of days, I was able to safely drive the 25 minutes to Kirkland. But if we could’ve walked somewhere that wasn’t the nightmare emergency room (which they know so well, as an ER nurse)? Or a 5 minute drive? It would’ve changed everything. And I thought about that a lot while supporting them during this most recent episode. In the tenuous time when people are so vulnerable, scared, unpredictable… I kept thinking I wish we could walk 20 minutes to Broadway and Union.
– Resident, City of Seattle/District 3
Upcoming Opportunities to Engage
The Crisis Care Center Initiative holds monthly virtual community meetings. Meetings are open to the public and dedicated to providing updates and answering questions. Since June, nearly 100 community members have attended.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 14, and will feature presentations by our recently expanded mobile crisis teams who respond in-person to community calls to 988. Here are links to register for the afternoon and evening sessions:
King County DCHS will also host a Community Conversation with the Capitol Hill Community Council and continue leading information sessions with small businesses, churches and schools this fall. We’ll share dates on our website and in our newsletter once confirmed.
Interested in learning more and staying involved? Here’s how you can:
- Email us at ccclevy@kingcounty.gov with questions and requests for meetings
- Join our monthly virtual community meetings
- Subscribe to our CCC newsletter for updates and events
- Visit our website: Crisis Care Centers Initiative – King County, Washington
“As high school students, we’ve seen firsthand the number of people who are in crisis with addiction and houselessness. This crisis care center will provide safety and help to so many people who need it. It would actually make us safer, too, because it would bring folks off the streets and bring them the care they need. ”
-High School Senior, Capitol Hill
