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Two years ago, voters approved the Crisis Care Centers Levy to fund five Crisis Care Centers across King County. Crisis Care Centers are a place for anyone to go to get urgent care for a wide range of mental health and substance use crises, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can walk in without an appointment and don't need insurance.
There will be five Crisis Care Centers throughout King County—one in the North, East, South, and Central crisis response zones and one for youth.
Connections Health Solutions' and its crisis center in Kirkland known as Connections Kirkland was recently selected as the first of the five. Anyone can walk-in for urgent care today.
Please read on for the latest updates on the Crisis Care Centers Initiative.
First Responders Applaud Crisis Care Centers
Already, first responders from across King County are taking people to Connections Kirkland and praising the drop-off process that takes less than 10 minutes. Crisis Care Centers make our communities safer by freeing up first responders, including law enforcement, so they can focus on more emergency response. They also ease the burden on our overcrowded hospital emergency rooms and jails.
 “Prior to having this option, the emergency room was our only option and [it meant] potentially being there for hours. [The Crisis Care Center] frees us up for other emergency response. What has been the most beneficial and the feedback that I’ve received from the officers is how quick the turnaround is.” – Police Chief Darrell Lowe, Redmond Police Department, KING 5-TV, February 2025
We know that treatment works, and we need more of it. King County was asked to move with urgency to create more places for people to go around the region for crisis care and is working to fulfill voters’ mandate.
King County has identified a potential Crisis Care Center building at 1145 Broadway, formerly owned by Polyclinic/Optum to make it easier for people in Seattle to get immediate behavioral health care. There is currently no place in Seattle to walk in and receive care if you are experiencing a mental health crisis.
This building is already a medical facility with the same infrastructure needed for a Crisis Care Center to operate effectively, including the right square footage. The space is zoned for this purpose, is centrally located and close to three hospital emergency departments and near major transportation corridors.
Before beginning community engagement, we have been assessing the building’s viability, as with any buildings purchased by King County.
Consistent with the Crisis Care Center Implementation Plan, the County cannot acquire a building for a Crisis Care Center site until 30 days after the King County Council receives a notification letter describing the details of the sale and rationale for purchase, reflecting the necessary assessments for suitability.
Last Thursday, we held our first community meeting in partnership with the Greater Seattle Business Association in Capitol Hill to address early questions and concerns we've received directly from local businesses and residents. We heard concerns around public safety as well as support for making more treatment available as a solution.
We will host future conversations as part of our larger community engagement effort and will share details in this newsletter, on our website and DCHS Instagram once we have them. We are happy to meet with you or your organization in the meantime to offer education about Crisis Care Centers. You can email us at ccclevy@kingcounty.gov to schedule a presentation.
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