The Ontario Government has approved the conversion of nine drug injection sites into Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs.
This initiative aims to enhance the safety of children and families and improve access to recovery and treatment services.
The sites are located within 200 metres of schools and licensed childcare centres across Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Guelph, Kitchener, and Thunder Bay.
This move is part of a broader C$378m ($262.63m) investment to establish 19 new HART Hubs throughout the region.
Ontario Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones said: “We have heard loud and clear from families across Ontario that drug injection sites near schools and child-care centres are making our communities less safe.”
Ontario is thus advancing a care system that prioritises community safety alongside treatment and recovery.
In support of these objectives, the province enacted the Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act, and the Community Care and Recovery Act.
These laws restrict drug injection sites from operating within 200 metres of a school or child-care centre.
Each provincially funded site had the chance to propose a transition to a HART Hub, with all nine applications now approved.
The transition of these sites into HART Hubs is expected to be complete by 31 March 2025.
They will be eligible for up to four times more funding for treatment and recovery than their current provincial allocation as consumption sites. They will also receive one-time funding to cover start-up costs.
HART Hubs aim to connect individuals with complex needs with a range of treatment and preventative services.
These services range from primary care and mental health services, including addiction care and support, to social services and employment support.
The applications for the remaining HART Hubs are currently under review, with announcements expected in the forthcoming weeks. The aim is for all hubs to be operational by 1 April 2025.
In addition, the hubs are set to introduce approximately 375 housing units.
