Services
The Sobering Center, serving Austin and Travis County, keeps our community healthy.
Our clients represent the full diversity of the Austin and Travis County community. We regularly provide sobering services and brief interventions for college students, festival attendees, people enjoying downtown nightlife, and individuals experiencing homelessness. Every person is welcomed, and our staff tailor support to meet each individual’s needs.
Our Services
Safe Sobering
Safe Sobering is the foundation of everything we do. We provide a safe, supportive space where people can sober up under medical and peer supervision. Many of our staff members have lived experience with recovery, creating an environment rooted in respect, understanding, and dignity.
Once admitted, clients are given time to rest and, when ready, have a conversation with our team. For some, this may focus on harm reduction and staying safe. For others, it may be about next steps toward addressing substance use. Wherever someone is in their journey, our goal is always the same: to provide a nonjudgmental space and connect them to community resources when they are ready.
Holdover Program
For individuals who choose to seek treatment after sobering, our Holdover Program provides a safe place to stay while our staff works to secure a treatment bed. This service is especially critical for people without stable housing or insurance, who often face significant barriers to accessing care.
Our team works tirelessly to remove those barriers, including coordinating medications and treatment referrals. Nearly 95% of clients who enter the Holdover Program are successfully connected to a higher level of care.
Bridge Medications
In partnership with Austin–Travis County EMS, we offer Bridge Medications to help stabilize clients experiencing withdrawal. These medications allow people to remain safely at the Sobering Center instead of being sent to a hospital, helping them stay on track toward treatment and recovery.
Peer Support
The Sobering Center provides peer support services at Dell Seton Medical Center and in the community. Our trained peer specialists meet people where they are, helping them navigate appointments, attend meetings, and connect with ongoing care.
Peers can also facilitate admission to the Sobering Center for those who need additional support while seeking treatment. This program is made possible through funding from Travis County.
For any additional questions about our services, call 512-957-1900 or email info@soberingcenter.org.
The Sobering Center Process of Care
Client is referred/transported to the Sobering Center by law enforcement, EMS, or other referral partner.
Client is referred/transported to the Sobering Center by law enforcement, EMS, or other referral partner.
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Intake medics do a screening to ensure it’s safe for the client to sober up in our facility.
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Intake medics do a screening to ensure it’s safe for the client to sober up in our facility.
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SBIRT Counselors conduct an assessment used to link a client to the appropriate community resource.
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SBIRT Counselors conduct an assessment used to link a client to the appropriate community resource.
Referring to the Sobering Center
Currently, individuals can be taken to the Sobering Center by way of a local police department, ambulance, or hospital. The Sobering Center also has formal referral partnerships with several local community based organizations.
Impact on the Community
Our organization provides the essential service of diverting publicly intoxicated individuals from such systems and provides direct intervention to assist that 90% in getting the help they need.