DESC's Crisis Solutions Center

DESC’s Crisis Solutions Center (CSC) in Seattle, Washington, offers an innovative and essential response to behavioral health crises, providing a vital alternative to jails, emergency rooms, and psychiatric inpatient units. Serving adults in acute psychological distress, the CSC operates through a structured and compassionate model that supports recovery, stabilization, and long-term care planning. The facility consists of three integrated programs: the Crisis Diversion Facility (CDF), Crisis Diversion Interim Services (CDIS), and the Mobile Crisis Team (MCT), all designed to deliver timely, voluntary, and trauma-informed support in a safe residential environment.

The CSC offers around-the-clock services including psychiatric evaluations, medication monitoring, peer support, and intensive case management. Clients are connected to housing and long-term behavioral health services to reduce chronic homelessness and avoid unnecessary institutionalization. DESC also collaborates with Harborview Medical Center and King County Mental Health Court to offer a Crisis Respite Program—a short-term intervention that bridges psychiatric care and stable community reintegration. As a whole, the Crisis Solutions Center reflects a systemwide commitment to de-escalation, dignity, and comprehensive behavioral health support, helping stabilize individuals during their most vulnerable moments and equipping them with resources for sustained recovery.