Spokane, Wash. — Spokane County officials announced the groundbreaking for the new P.A.T.H. Crisis Relief and Sobering Center, a project the county said will expand behavioral health and substance use services in one location.
The Spokane County Board of County Commissioners said the new center built on the county’s Stabilization Center and Alternatives to Incarceration programs, which have served nearly 7,000 people since 2021.
County leaders said the project added a 23-hour crisis relief and sobering service and brought multiple services together as the Spokane County P.A.T.H. Diversion and Recovery Center.
Mary Brooks, chair of the Board of County Commissioners, said the project reflected years of work to secure funding for the $21 million plan.
“Together, this investment reflects a shared commitment to building a more responsive, coordinated and compassionate behavioral health system – one that meets the needs of today while preparing for the future,” Brooks said.
The county said people would be able to enter through one access point and get crisis stabilization, sobering services, mental health support, minor medical care and connections to ongoing treatment. More on the county’s behavioral health services can be linked here: [Spokane County behavioral health services].
Community Services Department Director Justin Johnson said the new model changed how the community responded to behavioral health crises.
“This project represents a shift in how we respond to behavioral health crises in our community,” said Justin Johnson, Community Services Department Director. “By creating a centralized, integrated and accessible system of care, we are providing a meaningful alternative to emergency rooms and incarceration, while improving outcomes for individuals and families.”
County officials said the project was also expected to ease pressure on hospitals, emergency departments and the criminal justice system while improving public safety and health outcomes.
The county reported the project was funded through federal, state and local sources, including opioid settlement money and local mental health sales tax funds, for a total of about $21 million. Construction began this week and the center was expected to open in Spring 2027.