Ontario government adding second ‘Hart Hub’ addiction treatment centre in Oshawa

Oshawa is getting a second Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hub, part of the provincial government’s plan to invest $550 million to open 28 treatment centres to help create safer communities and support people struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

Queen’s Park said Durham Region would be getting a Hart Hub in January but did not initially divulge the location, though the Durham Community Health Centre (DCHC) in Oshawa will serve as the lead agency for the new HART Hub, in partnership with Durham Region.

Now a second site in the city has been added and while the exact locations haven’t been announced DCHC has two facilities in Oshawa:115 Grassmere Avenue (south) and 1320 Airport Boulevard (north).

“We are incredibly honoured that Durham Community Health Centre has been chosen as the lead agency,” DCHC CEO Francis Garwe said earlier this year “We have a deep commitment to the health and wellness of unsheltered individuals living throughout Durham Region and we are uniquely equipped to support those struggling with addiction and mental health issues.”

“For years,” Garwe added, “the medical and outreach members of our Unsheltered Health & Wellness Team have worked closely together to improve the well-being and day-to-day situations of unsheltered individuals in our community. The HART Hub will be a wonderful way for us to expand our reach and have an even larger impact within the unsheltered community throughout Durham Region.”

The new treatment centre will connect people with “complex needs” to comprehensive treatment and preventative services. Planning of the new HART Hubs in Oshawa is already underway.

Services provided at the Hart Hub will include:

• Primary care
• Mental health and addiction services, including addictions treatment
• Mental health and addictions supportive housing
• Social services and employment supports

“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 Health Minister Sylvia Jones

The 28 Hart Hubs is nine more than originally planned.

The timing of the Hart Hubs was originally April 1 but Hannah Jenson, the Health Ministry’s Director of Communications, said the government will be working with DCHC and the other operating agencies to open the locations “as soon as possible” and will also assist with operational budgets.

Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter said the new hubs will ensure people in need will receive “the compassionate, recovery-focused care they deserve.”

“The HART Hub in Oshawa will provide comprehensive wraparound services and support for those struggling with addiction, creating pathways for their long-term recovery.”

The creation of HART Hubs is being done in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

The program is part of a $3.8 billion investment over 10 years by the province to fill gaps in the mental health and addictions care continuum, create new services and expand programs, including $152 million over the next three years for supportive housing for those experiencing mental health and addictions challenges and $22 million-plus over four years to create 10 new Youth Wellness Hubs, with one of those in Ajax.

Hub clients are those with complex service needs and experiencing a range of overlapping issues and marginalization including homelessness, substance use, mental health, social service support needs and unemployment).

On-site or integrated referral to shelter and/or transitional housing services and other amenities, such as food and a warm shower) are offered to those in need and naloxone is also provided where necessary.

There will also be a provision of support such as mental heath, primary care, substance use, addiction, case management for income security, employment and social service needs.

Last year the province announced the closure of nine safe injection sites in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph and Thunder Bay due to being within 200 metres of a school or licensed child-care centre.

Durham Region did not have a safe injection site and with a focus on treatment and recovery, HART Hubs will not offer supervised drug consumption or needle exchange programs.

“The new HART Hub in Oshawa will provide vital support for those seeking mental health and addiction services,” said Ontario Finance Minister and Pickering-Uxbridge MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy. “By expanding access to treatment and recovery services, we are helping individuals rebuild their lives while making Durham Region safer and stronger.”