LONDON — The Ontario government is helping create safer communities and supporting people struggling with addiction and mental health issues by approving 18 new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs, in addition to the 9 HART Hubs that were approved earlier this year. These new Hubs are part of the province’s plan to support safer communities by investing $529 million to create a total of 27 HART Hubs across the province while also banning drug injection sites from operating within 200 metres of schools and licensed child-care centres.
“Our government is helping more people get the treatment and support they need, when and where they need it, by taking the next step to improve access to mental health and addictions services,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Our investment to create a total of 27 new HART Hubs will keep communities safe and ensure timely and comprehensive access to mental health support, addictions care, primary care, supportive housing, and employment services, no matter where you live.”
The 18 new HART Hubs locations were chosen as a result of a provincewide call for proposals last summer. All HART Hubs will have the goal of being operational by April 1, 2025. Earlier this year, the province announced that 9 drug injection sites in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph and Thunder Bay that are required to close due to being located within 200 metres of a school or licensed child-care centre have been approved for transition to a HART Hub. This brings the total number of HART Hubs across the province to 27, 8 more than initially planned.
“We are investing more than any government in Ontario’s history to create a nation-leading system of mental health and addictions care,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “The new HART Hubs will give people struggling with addiction the support and treatment services they need to achieve lasting recovery.”
HART Hubs, similar to existing hub models in Ontario, including two in London, that have successfully provided people with care, will reflect regional priorities by connecting people with complex needs to comprehensive treatment and preventative services. These include a range of services to meet local needs such as primary care, mental health services, addictions care, social services and employment support. HART Hubs will also add an estimated 540 highly supportive housing units across all 27 HART Hubs, in addition to addiction recovery and treatment beds, helping thousands of people each year transition to more stable long-term housing.
“I am incredibly grateful that the Ontario Government has selected London to host one of 18 new HART Hubs. These Hubs represent a significant step forward in providing wraparound supports for individuals facing homelessness and addiction, ensuring they have access to the comprehensive care they need to rebuild their lives” said Josh Morgan, Mayor of London. “I want to thank Premier Ford and the Minister of Health for recognizing the success of our existing hub system in London, seeing its potential, and committing to expand this model across Ontario. This investment will transform lives and strengthen communities throughout the province.”
The 18 new HART Hubs that have been approved by the province are:
- Fourcast – Four Counties Addictions Services Team (Peterborough)
- CMHA Peel Dufferin (Brampton)
- Health Sciences North/ Horizon Santé Nord (Greater Sudbury)
- The HART of Simcoe (Barrie)
- Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (Windsor)
- CMHA Hastings and Prince Edward County (Belleville)
- Durham Community Health Centre (Oshawa)
- CMHA Thames Valley (London)
- CMHA Algoma (Sault Ste. Marie)
- Services and Housing in Province (Dufferin County)
- Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health (Lanark, Leeds and Grenville)
- Oxford Ontario Health Team (Oxford County)
- County of Renfrew (Renfrew County)
- Gateway of Niagara (Niagara)
- CMHA Lambton Kent Sarnia (Sarnia)
- Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre (Ottawa)
- Kenora Chiefs Advisory (Kenora)
- Maamwesying (Sault Ste. Marie)
Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care and building on the Roadmap to Wellness, the province is taking action to connect individuals to integrated mental health and addictions services, where and when they need it.