The new HART Hub will receive $6.3 million in provincial fund per year over the next three years. Pictured: Local officials, including MPP Sam Oosterhoff, at the funding announcement. Photo Credit: Sam Oosterhoff/X.
Ahead of Premier Doug Ford’s decision to call a snap provincial election for Feb. 27, the Ontario government announced 18 new locations for the province’s new HART Hubs, which are centres to help cope with homelessness and drug addiction.
These centres are being rolled out in part to replace drug injection sites, many of which were closed due to close proximity to schools and child-care centres.
One of the new HART hubs will be based at the Gateway of Niagara in Welland. The government says the Hub will “increase access to additions and mental health treatment for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, while simultaneously increasing access to and stability in supportive housing.”
Among the Hub’s proposed services include primary and psychiatric care, outreach, mental health and addictions services, peer supports, supportive housing, and employment services.
Niagara’s HART hub will be part of the province’s plan to support safer communities. The province has budgeted $529 million to create a total of 27 HART Hubs across the province.
“Our government is helping more people get the treatment they need, when and where they need it, by taking the next step to improve access to mental health and addictions services,” said Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones.
“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,” she continued.
The goal is to have all HART Hubs operational by April 1. Across the province, the 27 HART Hubs are expected to add 540 highly supportive housing units, in addition to addiction recovery and treatment beds.
“We are investing more than any government in Ontario’s history to create a nation-leading system of mental health and addictions care,” said Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Michael Tibollo. “The new HART Hubs will give people struggling with addition the support and treatment services they need to achieve lasting recovery.”
Niagara West MPP and Associate Minister of Energy and Electrification Sam Oosterhoff was on hand to make a local announcement about the Welland location earlier this week. The Welland location will receive $6.3 million per year over the next three years in provincial funding.
St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe, Regional Chair Jim Bradley, Port Colborne Mayor Bill Steele, and Deputy Welland Mayor Adam Moote all joined Oosterhoff for the announcement.
“On the heels of an eighty-six percent increase in provincial homelessness prevention funding for Niagara, our government is supporting our frontline service providers with strategic funding to help break the cycle of addition,” said Oosterhoff.
“This new treatment hub for Niagara will connect more people to the treatment and support they need, when they need it, while continuing to build safer communities.”
Jay Goldberg is the Ontario Director at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. He previously served as a policy fellow at the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Jay holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
