Ontario is transitioning nine drug injection sites near schools and child-care centres into Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs, part of a $378-million provincial initiative to enhance addiction recovery services while addressing community safety concerns.
The nine sites, located in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, and Thunder Bay, will complete their transition by March 31, 2025. These hubs will integrate addiction treatment, mental health care, and social services while adding 375 supportive housing units.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones highlighted the importance of prioritising community safety and mental health. “Families across Ontario have made it clear that injection sites near schools undermine safety. The HART Hubs represent a crucial step toward balancing recovery with security,” said Jones.
The transition reflects the province’s Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act, which bans injection sites within 200 metres of schools or child-care centres. Each transitioning site will receive funding to enhance services, with hubs eligible for up to four times the funding previously allocated to injection sites.
Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, described the hubs as a significant upgrade, providing comprehensive services to help individuals achieve lasting recovery.
Additional applications for HART Hubs are under review, with all 19 planned hubs expected to open by April. The province says the move builds on Ontario’s Roadmap to Wellness initiative, which aims to close gaps in mental health care and support.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
