On July 21, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) welcomed more than 170 neighbors, providers, and local partners for an open house at the future Seattle Crisis Care Center. First Hill and Capitol Hill community members showed strong interest in learning about the behavioral health services coming to the neighborhood, and many took the opportunity to explore the crisis services already available, including the 9-8-8 crisis line, 24-hour walk-in Crisis Care Center in Kirkland, youth services and mobile crisis teams.
Local elected officials and representatives from the City of Seattle Mayor’s Office, Seattle Police Department, King County Executive’s Office, and other agencies also attended.
The event included a resource fair featuring teams from DCHS, the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC), Crisis Connections, YMCA, and Connections Health Solutions―the future Crisis Care Center’s operator.
Jennifer Winslow, Strategic Manager for the Crisis Care Centers Levy, shared updates about the future center and the progress made so far. Attendees learned about improvements already underway at the property, located at 1145 Broadway, including enhanced lighting, new landscaping, daily cleanup, and safety measures. Check out the Seattle Crisis Care Center Community FAQ to learn more about King County’s progress around opening the center, as well as the timeline below.
Joel Conger from Connections Health Solutions provided an overview of how Crisis Care Centers work, explaining 24/7 walk‑in urgent care, 23‑hour observation, first responder drop-off, crisis stabilization services, multidisciplinary care teams, and youth-specific crisis support. His presentation helped attendees envision what this center will offer once renovations begin later this year and doors open in December 2027, at the earliest.
Networking lasted long after the program with attendees asking questions, swapping stories, gathering information, and expressing enthusiasm about what this new place, where everyone can go for behavioral health care, will mean for our region’s largest city. The event made one thing clear: the community is ready, engaged, and excited to stay connected as the Seattle Crisis Care Center takes shape.
This event is part of King County’s ongoing engagement for the future Seattle Crisis Care Center. Earlier this year the team participated in events co-hosted by the First Hill Baptist Church, Peer Seattle, GSBA, East Precinct Advisory Council, in addition to meetings with the Seattle Community Advisory Board, Capitol Hill Community Council, First Hill Improvement Association and other community organizations.
King County’s Crisis Care Centers Levy team also continues to host monthly virtual community meetings and regular presentations, including by request. Subscribe to the Crisis Care Centers newsletter to stay up-to-date on future events!