Two social service programs celebrated an official grand opening of their (sort of) new location this morning when mayor Kim Bergel cut the “Police Line — Do Not Cross” tape on the Waterfront Annex.

Crisis Alternative Response of Eureka’s (CARE) new-ish location at 7 Commercial, near the Vista Del Mar. It shares the building with the Community Safety Engagement Team (CSET). Both teams work closely with one another, so city manager Miles Slattery told the Outpost that it made sense for them to be in the same building. The location was selected because most of the calls for their services are around the area where the new building is.

CSET has been based out of the location for five months and CARE for three, but the ribbon cutting wasn’t until today because it’s taken some time to refurbish the space and put up some signage. The move and upkeep was paid for by 2020’s Measure H and American Rescue Plan Act funds.

“This is an opportunity for our teams to be together in the same location and to be able to work better together,” Bergel said. “It’s going to be an amazing opportunity. We’re down where we can meet people where we’re at. I’m just so forever grateful that we have moved in this direction with our department and that we are making a difference every day. I think this is one more opportunity to move that in the right direction.” 

The Eureka Police Department runs CSET, and CARE is a division of Eureka city government. CARE provides mobile mental health services, such as sending clinicians to 911 calls or helping people find more permanent psychological health. CSET focuses on homeless crime and quality-of-life issues in Old Town Eureka, the waterfront and city parks.