Somerset West Community Health Centre gets approval to operate as addiction treatment hub

The Somerset West Community Health Centre on Eccles Street is seen in this undated file image. (CTV News Ottawa)

The Ontario government has approved the transition of a supervised drug consumption site in Ottawa to become a new homelessness and addiction recovery treatment (HART) hub.

The drug consumption site at the Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC) was one of several in the province that were ordered to close because of their proximity to a school or daycare. Supervised consumption services must end by March 31.

The province confirmed Thursday that nine sites, including the Somerset West site in Ottawa, have been approved for funding to transition to HART Hubs.

"These HART Hubs, located in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph and Thunder Bay, are part of the province’s $378 million investment to support the creation of a total of 19 new HART Hubs across the province," a news release said.

The Ottawa HART Hub is meant to be a low-barrier, trauma informed, culturally responsive, 24/7 healthcare model that integrates primary care, mental health, substance use treatment, housing with supports, and health systems navigation. Services will include substance use management and addictions counselling, group counselling, life process programming and deep trauma healing interventions. HART Hubs do not offer safer supply services, supervised drug consumption or needle exchange programs.

"This provincial funding is a critical step towards supporting community needs for addiction treatment," said Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe in a news release. "Ottawa has a strong commitment to helping residents through the recovery journey. This funding will help to keep our communities safe and to provide wrap-around services to those who can benefit from addiction treatments."

The SWCHC began offering supervised consumption services in 2018. There are three other sites that offer these services in Ottawa.

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones referenced the Somerset West site in her speech announcing the new measures last year, claiming there has been a spike in violent crime in the immediate area.

Ottawa police did not provide crime statistics for the area around 55 Eccles St. following Jones's comments, saying they must be obtained via a Freedom of Information request. CTV News Ottawa submitted a request last summer but has yet to receive a response.

A second HART Hub could open in Ottawa. The Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre has also submitted an application to become a HART Hub. It did not previously provide safe consumption services and applied under a separate "competitive" stream for non-profit health providers. The province says applications for the remaining HART Hubs are under review and will be announced in the coming weeks. All HART Hubs will have the goal of being operational by April 1.