By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Might Chatham-Kent be getting a new HART Hub?
Local leaders hope so.
Designed to help individuals with the complex needs associated with homelessness, addiction, mental health and unemployment, Ontario plans to build 19 of the centres. Area officials have put together a bid to secure funding for one of the sites as part of the $378-million pilot project.
HART stands for Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment.
According to a provincial government website, the intent of the hub project is to provide services that prevent the client from experiencing a “revolving door” of services by way of treatment and relapse prevention.
Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent is spearheading the application on behalf of a number of C-K agencies. The coalition of community partners is seeking $6.3 million from the Ontario government to get the project off the ground.
According to CMHA Lambton-Kent chief executive officer Rhonny Doxtator, the application is being made in an effort to deal with Chatham-Kent’s “urgent and growing need” for comprehensive support services for people struggling with homelessness and addiction.
“Chatham-Kent is facing a significant increase in homelessness and addiction,” Doxtator said in an email message to The Voice. “The HART Hub model presents an opportunity for our community to come together and deliver integrated, person-centred care that addresses the needs of the vulnerable population.”
Doxtator points out that addressing homelessness and addiction is a “long-term commitment.
“The HART Hub could serve as a central point of access for individuals in need, providing seamless and co-ordinated support on their journey to recovery and stability,” Doxtator said.
Other Southwestern Ontario communities are also putting in hub bids, including London and Sarnia.
Only 10 new HART hubs will be built in Ontario, with nine previously sanctioned safe consumption sites repurposed into HART Hub sites under the new model. Earlier this year, the Ford government announced it will no longer support safe consumption sites and is looking at the HART Hub model as a way to deal with the issue.
Up to 375 supportive housing beds will be added across the province, including treatment beds aimed at providing addiction treatment.
