Summary

With nearly one-third of mental health residential treatment beds lost in recent years, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the County, using state and local funds, is in the final stage of purchasing Cascade Hall, a 64-bed residential treatment center in north Seattle.

Story

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced today the County is in the final stage of purchasing Cascade Hall, a 64-bed residential treatment center in north Seattle. The purchase will preserve approximately 25 percent of King County’s mental health residential treatment beds at a time when economic pressures are causing providers to close behavioral health facilities. The purchase will allow the facility to continue providing mental health residential care to dozens of clients.

The facility is currently owned and operated by Sound, a behavioral health provider. In early 2022, Sound informed King County of its intent to sell Cascade Hall. Together, King County and Sound developed a plan to secure the building long-term and ensure continuity of care for clients. In 2023, the County will begin a new partnership with Community House to continue operating the building and ensure ongoing access to behavioral health treatment. King County worked closely with both Sound and Community House to prevent the loss of important mental health treatment capacity and continue serving the community.

“Everyone should have access to the care they need, where and when they need it— especially in a moment of crisis. The behavioral health system has long been underfunded, and we cannot afford to lose treatment facilities like this one,” said Executive Constantine. “Today’s success should also be a warning – too many community behavioral health facilities lack funding for basic maintenance and upkeep. We need dedicated funding from our state and federal partners to keep these treatment facilities open and expanding. I appreciate the State’s partnership in saving this facility, especially the leadership from Senator Frockt and Representatives Callan and Macri.”

In 2018, 355 beds for mental health residential care existed. Today, only 244 beds remain available. In 2022, King County residents wait an average of 44 days for a mental health residential bed. King County has invested $4 million in MIDD Behavioral Health funds, combined with $6 million of funding from Washington State, to complete the purchase of Cascade Hall. The partnership ensures this vital resource remains in place, preserving critical mental health residential treatment capacity in the region.

“The people of our city and our county deeply need the excellent behavioral health care provided at Cascade Hall,” said Sen. David Frockt (D-Seattle). “I was proud to lead the effort to contribute $6 million in state funds to enable King County to purchase Cascade Hall and keep these critical services running.”

"In 2018 we had 355 residential treatment beds in facilities for those in need of behavioral health support. Now we have 240 and are losing more every day. This dramatic loss of critical support has happened during COVID at a time when our need for behavioral health facilities has exponentially increased,” said King County Councilmember Sarah Perry. “I am grateful for this partnership between King County and our State Legislature to purchase Cascade Hall, preserving 64 beds so that our family members, loved ones and neighbors can receive the care that they need to live healthy, productive lives."

Cascade Hall is a 64-bed residential treatment facility that provides 24/7 treatment in a safe, supportive environment where people can receive intensive services to stabilize and recover from behavioral health conditions.

“With the assets available to continue providing Cascade Hall’s residents the care they need, we believe that King County was an ideal partner,” said Patrick Evans, President & CEO of Sound. “We agree that residential treatment centers must be a top priority here and believe that the purchase of Cascade Hall enables Sound to renew its focus on our three existing residential facilities, which serve 140 residential clients, as well as our future Enhanced Services Facility in Auburn.”

"Community House Mental Health is pleased to be working with King County on the continued operations of Cascade Hall. Cascade Hall has been an important part of the County residential system for over 35 years. Our organization currently operates three additional 24- hour staffed residential facilities under contract with King County that are similar to Cascade Hall. We hope to bring that expertise to Cascade Hall and ensure the continuity of care for the clients living here, said Chris Szala, Executive Director for Community House. “The need for places like Cascade Hall is essential to maintaining and enhancing the care for people in need of residential behavioral health treatment in King County. The purchase of Cascade Hall shows that commitment by King County.”

Last month Executive Constantine announced a coalition to develop a policy proposal to stop the loss of residential beds, invest in crisis care centers, and ensure the sustainability of the workforce to staff the behavioral health system in King County. The coalition’s plan is expected to be announced alongside the Executive’s budget in late September.

Relevant links

• Executive Constantine announces coalition to tackle behavioral health crisis in King County | August 2022
• Sound Health
• Community House

Quotes

Everyone should have access to the care they need, where and when they need it— especially in a moment of crisis. The behavioral health system has long been underfunded, and we cannot afford to lose treatment facilities like this one. Today’s success should also be a warning – too many community behavioral health facilities lack funding for basic maintenance and upkeep. We need dedicated funding from our state and federal partners to keep these treatment facilities open and expanding. I appreciate the State’s partnership in saving this facility, especially the leadership from Senator Frockt and Representatives Callan and Macri.

The people of our city and our county deeply need the excellent behavioral health care provided at Cascade Hall. I was proud to lead the effort to contribute $6 million in state funds to enable King County to purchase Cascade Hall and keep these critical services running.

In 2018 we had 355 residential treatment beds in facilities for those in need of behavioral health support. Now we have 240 and are losing more every day. This dramatic loss of critical support has happened during COVID at a time when our need for behavioral health facilities has exponentially increased. I am grateful for this partnership between King County and our State Legislature to purchase Cascade Hall, preserving 64 beds so that our family members, loved ones and neighbors can receive the care that they need to live healthy, productive lives.

King County is losing behavioral healthcare capacity at an alarming rate. Purchasing Cascade Hall is an important step for preserving the healthcare infrastructure our region needs to help our neighbors in crisis.

The Cascade Hall purchase by King County, with support from the State Legislature, shows exemplary leadership in these trying times: acting with urgency, prioritizing marginalized communities, and securing desperately needed housing. This type of housing and partnership is exactly what we need to create more housing solutions immediately, and to quickly scale it up to meet the growing needs of our region. I am proud to be part of the coalition effort to bring more multi-layered approaches like this online soon by protecting existing housing capacity, growing new capacity, and addressing critical wage and workforce issues for housing and human service workers.

With the assets available to continue providing Cascade Hall’s residents the care they need, we believe that King County was an ideal partner. We agree that residential treatment centers must be a top priority here and believe that the purchase of Cascade Hall enables Sound to renew its focus on our three existing residential facilities, which serve 140 residential clients, as well as our future Enhanced Services Facility in Auburn.

Community House Mental Health is pleased to be working with King County on the continued operations of Cascade Hall. Cascade Hall has been an important part of the County residential system for over 35 years. Our organization currently operates three additional 24- hour staffed residential facilities under contract with King County that are similar to Cascade Hall. We hope to bring that expertise to Cascade Hall and ensure the continuity of care for the clients living here. The need for places like Cascade Hall is essential to maintaining and enhancing the care for people in need of residential behavioral health treatment in King County. The purchase of Cascade Hall shows that commitment by King County.

For more information, contact:

Katie Rogers, Department of Community and Human Services, 206-758-8287