Cuyahoga County, the Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board, and The Centers have unveiled plans for a new mental health crisis receiving center in downtown Cleveland. The proposed facility, a $28 million project, aims to provide a community-based alternative to emergency rooms, jails, and psychiatric hospitals for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
A New Approach to Crisis Care
Scott Osiecki, CEO of the ADAMHS Board, highlighted the importance of the new center, which will serve as a safe, supportive space for individuals in crisis. Instead of the typical response of taking those in distress to emergency rooms or jails—places ill-equipped to handle mental health needs—the center will provide a specialized environment for treatment.
“The new facility is actually going to serve as a community-based kind of home-like alternative to emergency rooms, jails, and psychiatric hospitals,” Osiecki said. “This is something we’ve been pushing for the last couple of years, and now it’s finally coming together.”
Brandy Carney, Cuyahoga County Director of Public Safety and Justice, echoed Osiecki’s sentiments. She emphasized how current systems often fail to address the unique needs of individuals in a mental health crisis, resulting in unnecessary detentions in jails or waiting in emergency rooms. The new facility is set to change that.
“That’s not the place where there’s dedicated treatment,” Carney said. “Having a solution that provides all of these resources in a single building, both for addiction as well as mental illness, outpatient services, inpatient services, pharmacy, and urgent care, it’s really exciting that we’ll have that for Cuyahoga County.”
A Comprehensive Facility for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment
Eric Morse, President and CEO of The Centers, which will operate the new facility, shared details about the center’s design. The facility will occupy a former St. Vincent Charity Medical Center office building on E. 22nd and Central Ave. The building will feature three floors, each dedicated to different aspects of care.
First Floor: Designed to accommodate up to 40 individuals in immediate crisis.
Second Floor: Equipped with 32 beds—16 for detox and 16 for mental health recovery.
Third Floor: Will serve as an outpatient clinic, offering psychiatric counseling, primary care, and other services.
The new center will also provide a comprehensive range of services, including on-site medical staff, social workers, and peer support workers who bring lived experience with addiction and mental health issues. Morse anticipates the facility will employ approximately 200 staff members across various shifts.
Funding and Support
The project is funded by the ADAMHS Board, which has allocated $9.3 million to the initiative. This includes $6.8 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, as well as other contributions. Cuyahoga County’s involvement is crucial for securing additional funding, with a portion expected to come from the county’s 2019 opioid settlement.
While the ADAMHS Board and The Centers have committed significant resources, the final funding decision will be made by the Cuyahoga County Council in the coming weeks.
Optimism for the Future
Despite the challenges, those involved in the project remain optimistic about its future. Carney, Osiecki, and Morse are all hopeful that the county will approve the necessary funds and that the crisis center will become an integral part of the local mental health care landscape.
Morse pointed out the strategic location of the facility, which is easily accessible by public transportation and centrally located near key highways, making it convenient for individuals from all parts of Cleveland, including the East, West, and South sides.
“Anyone from the east side or west side or south side of Cleveland can get there pretty easily through public transportation,” Morse said. “Or, if you’re being driven, it’s right at the intersection of all of our highways that come together.”
A Promising Step Forward for Mental Health Care in Cleveland
The new mental health crisis center is a groundbreaking project that represents a significant step forward in how Cleveland addresses mental health emergencies. By providing immediate, specialized care in a dedicated environment, the center aims to reduce the burden on emergency rooms and jails while offering individuals in crisis the support and care they need. With the project expected to break ground in the coming weeks and fully open in fall 2026, the center is poised to make a lasting impact on the community and set a new standard for mental health care in Cuyahoga County.
