Province announces funding for Sudbury HART hub

On Monday, the province announced it was funding addiction and mental health hubs in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie.

The Ontario government said Monday that Greater Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie are among 18 communities receiving funding to build centres to help people battling addiction and homelessness.

The Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs are part of the province’s plan to spend $529 million to create a total of 27 hubs across the province while also banning drug injection sites from operating within 200 metres of schools and licensed child-care centres.

“Sudbury’s HART hubs, similar to existing hub models in Ontario that have successfully provided people with care, will reflect regional priorities by connecting people with complex needs to comprehensive treatment and preventative services,” the province said in a news release.

The hub in Greater Sudbury could offer services such as primary care, mental health and addictions services, supportive housing and employment services.

“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,” Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, is quoted as saying in the release.

The 18 HART hubs locations, including in the Sault and Sudbury, were chosen following a call for proposals last summer. All the hubs will have the goal of being operational by April 1.

“This HART hub funding demonstrates the province’s commitment to helping us tackle the serious mental health and addictions challenges facing municipalities like Greater Sudbury,” Sudbury Maor Paul Lefebvre said in the release.

“Together, we are not just addressing immediate needs, we are building sustainable solutions that will change lives and create a stronger, healthier Greater Sudbury.”

Much more on the hubs announced Monday can be found here.