Board approves extension of Safer Center pilot using ROSAC funds; requests more outcome data

Pima County supervisors approved a contract extension to continue the Safer Center sobering facility pilot using regional opioid-settlement (ROSAC) funding. The pilot allows people to stay longer than the standard 24 hours used in most sobering sites and focuses on warm handoffs to treatment and re-entry services.

County staff discussed a UArizona evaluation that identified early operational challenges — particularly data gaps and initial staffing shortfalls — while noting recent improvements. "We still need better data to give an analysis to this board and to ROSAC to make a determination whether this is working or not," county staff said. Supervisors emphasized that approval is intended to buy time for evaluation, not to lock in indefinite funding.

The extension uses ROSAC settlement dollars; county staff said the ROSAC funding stream extends over multiple years, but timing and annual amounts are subject to the broader settlement schedule and ROSAC’s allocations. Supervisors asked staff to ensure independent evaluation continues and to return to the board with outcome metrics and potential long-term funding options before any permanent commitment is made.

Next steps: Evaluation will continue with UArizona; ROSAC will review proposals for related Desert Cove and other complementary services in the coming weeks. County staff will return with updated outcome data and recommendations about whether to convert the pilot into a sustained program.