On February 12, 2025, Mayor Daniel Lurie of San Francisco announced the opening of the first “24/7 Police-friendly Stabilization Center” in April to free up more police resources for public safety. This center will provide treatment for drug abusers and mental health patients, allowing police officers to quickly return to duty on the streets after dropping off individuals for care.
Mayor Lurie signed the “Fentanyl Emergency Status Ordinance” into law on the afternoon of the 12th, accelerating the implementation of another campaign promise. The establishment of the “24/7 Police-friendly Stabilization Center” at 822 Geary Street aims to address the Fentanyl crisis, providing shelter and treatment for homeless individuals to improve street safety and the environment in San Francisco.
The center will be staffed by a professional medical team 24/7 and will accept patients brought in by police, paramedics, and crisis response teams. Mayor Lurie explained that currently only San Francisco General Hospital provides such services, and the stabilization center will help reduce the direct transfer of patients to jails or emergency rooms, thus not only avoiding overwhelming resources at the hospital’s ER but also prioritizing emergency medical treatment for patients while freeing up more police resources to enhance street safety.
Mayor Lurie stated that the “Fentanyl Emergency Status Ordinance” authorizes the city government to streamline administrative processes and expedite the opening of the stabilization center to provide immediate treatment for patients, ultimately “alleviating the pressures on hospital emergency rooms and frontline responders.”
The center is scheduled to open in April, accommodating around 25 patients daily with 16 treatment beds and providing follow-up care for patients upon discharge. Mayor Lurie disclosed that this center is “just a start, not an end. We do indeed need more of such spaces.”
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott mentioned, “This center will be a tremendous aid to our police officers on duty.”
District 6 Councilman Matt Dorsey, who used to work at the police department responsible for the monthly reporting of drug overdose death data five years ago, cited the alarmingly high fatality rate of drug overdoses being almost twice the rate of the COVID-19 pandemic. This led him to become a councilman to tackle this crisis head-on. Dorsey believed that the decision to establish the stabilization center was wise, as it can save lives, garner community support, and collectively address the Fentanyl and drug crisis, in turn restoring public order.
District 3 Councilman Danny Sauter added that the establishment of the stabilization center will significantly improve the street environment in Lower Nob Hill.
Currently, the city is piloting a Triage Center on Sixth Street, combining social services, public health, and public safety departments to assist the homeless in finding shelter, participating in the “Journey Home” program, or receiving other forms of treatment.
Additionally, last week Mayor Lurie initiated the SFPD Hospitality Task Force to enhance security at Moscone Convention Center, Yerba Buena Gardens, Union Square, and other areas by strengthening interdepartmental cooperation within enforcement agencies and creating a safer urban environment.