King County has officially secured a permanent sobering center in Seattle’s SODO district, marking a major milestone in its ongoing strategy to combat substance use and drug-related emergencies.
The facility, situated at 1950 1st Avenue South, will be managed by Pioneer Human Services and can accommodate up to 40 individuals at a time, offering a safe place for those experiencing acute intoxication. Officials say it will also serve as a vital connection point for follow-up care, including housing, addiction treatment, and medical services.
County officials confirmed the $3 million purchase of the property, with funding sourced from the sale of the county’s previous sobering center located in the South Lake Union area.
The search for a permanent sobering center has been a top priority since former King County Executive Dow Constantine announced a five-part overdose prevention plan in 2023. One of the main goals was to provide a stable, long-term location for people in crisis due to substance use.
Sobering centers operate 24/7 and are designed to be a short-term, safe environment where individuals can stabilize and be referred to critical support systems. The new SODO site replaces a temporary facility housed in the Yesler Building, which has been serving the community during the transition.
In 2024 alone, more than 1,000 people were supported through the county’s sobering center services, according to King County records.
The decision to establish the new center in SODO followed engagement with local businesses and community groups. The SODO Business Improvement Area offered support for the move, recognizing the center’s potential to ease strain on emergency services and improve outcomes for those with substance use challenges.
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Its proximity to major downtown hospitals—including Harborview Medical Center, Swedish, and Virginia Mason—makes it an ideal location for medical referrals and rapid response coordination.
Shannon Braddock, currently serving as acting King County Executive following Constantine’s recent departure, emphasized the importance of the new facility in continuing the county’s public health mission.
“This sobering center is a critical step in our ongoing work to connect people struggling with substance use to the services they need,” Braddock said. “With our community partners, we are creating safe pathways to recovery and stability.”
The new site is just one part of a broader set of initiatives launched under the county’s drug response framework. Other ongoing efforts include growing the network of mobile behavioral health crisis teams—now totaling 33 countywide—launching a 16-bed residential program for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and awarding $12 million to dozens of behavioral health organizations to boost staffing and service capacity.
Officials say these developments are all part of a sustained, regional effort to expand access to treatment and curb the growing impact of opioid and drug addiction across King County .
