Presbyterian Medical Services reports rising sobering-center use; council hears calls to increase funding

Presbyterian Medical Services’ representatives told the Farmington City Council on a recent evening that the nonprofit’s Total campus — which includes a 24/7 sobering center, a crisis-expansion shelter and the Joint Intervention Program (JIP) dormitory called Paul’s Place — has seen a substantial increase in use and is seeking additional local funding to keep pace.

Jill Adair, Northwest Region Director for Presbyterian Medical Services, said the sobering center logged 9,472 admissions in 2023 and 12,271 in 2024, with the single highest month last December at 1,286 admissions. “Our greatest month, our most admissions per month was last December with 1,286 admissions during that month,” Adair said. She added the center now averages roughly 37 people on site at a time and has expanded intake hours in a short pilot to open at 5 a.m.

The nut graf: Councilors questioned whether the jump in admissions reflects unmet local need or regional shifts in how other cities handle homelessness and intoxication. City staff and PMS representatives urged the council to consider a roughly $300,000 annual increase to sustain current services and discussed…