Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub
Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub
On August 20, 2024, the Province of Ontario announced a new funding program to establish the Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs. The province is investing $378 million in 19 new HART hubs. Ten new hubs will be established, while nine former safe consumption sites will transition to the HART Hub model.
HART Hubs will add up to 375 highly supportive housing units and addiction recovery and treatment beds across the Province.
The Province has clarified that, with a focus on treatment and recovery, HART Hubs will not offer a “safer” supply, supervised drug consumption, or needle exchange programs.
Community stakeholders have been meeting regularly to collaborate and coordinate an application submission. Now, we need you to tell us what you would like to see in this application.
Frequently Asked Questions
HART Hubs are meant to reflect regional priorities and connect people with complex needs to comprehensive treatment and preventative services that could include:
- Primary care
- Mental health services
- Addiction care and support
- Social services and employment support
- Shelter and transition beds
- Supportive housing
- Other supplies and services, including naloxone, onsite showers, and food
A budget of $6.3M per year per Hub will be provided to communities successful in the ‘Call for Proposals,’ with $1.3M earmarked specifically for supportive housing. Funding will begin in 2025-2026 and continue through 2027-2928, and $1.8M to support one-time start-up and implementation costs per hub will be provided in 2024-2025. The intention is that HART Hubs will be operational by Winter 2025. Capital funds for new builds or major renovations are not eligible expenses under the program.
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 City has been leading the coordination of the application, and community stakeholders have responded with enthusiasm and a willingness to collaborate to develop the best possible submission. The Canadian Mental Health Association Algoma has agreed to be the lead applicant.
There has been excellent collaboration in the community among stakeholders and further outreach will be taking place to obtain input from additional organizations. Initial collaborators include:
- Algoma Family Services
- Algoma Ontario Health Team
- Algoma Public Health
- Canadian Mental Health Association Algoma
- District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board Sault Ste. Marie ? Garden River First Nation
- Group Health Centre
- Maamwesying Ontario Health Team
- Mamaweswen - North Shore Tribal Council
- Nogdawindamin
- Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services
- Ontario Disability Support Program
- Sault Area Hospital
- Sault Community Health Centre
- Willow Addiction Support Services
The components of the application include:
Demonstration of Need
- Existing Resources in the Community
- Presence of Existing Hubs
Project Objectives and Outcomes
- Objectives and Outcomes
Services
- Service Delivery Model
- Access to Culturally Safe Care
- Staffing/Human Resources o MHA Supportive Housing
Organizational Capacity
- Hub Governance
- Project Workplan
Data, Budget and Long-Term Sustainability
- Data Collection and Evaluation
- Budget
- Sustainability
An important component of the application for Sault Ste. Marie and the region are working with Indigenous partners to support the development of culturally safe and relevant care pathways.