9 supervised injection sites across province approved for transition to treatment hubs

Nine supervised injection sites across Ontario will soon be transitioned into treatment centres, Ontario’s Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.

The sites approved to be transitioned into Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs are in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph and Thunder Bay and are located within 200 metres of schools and licenced child-care centres.

They will be operational for treatment by March 31, 2025 — the same date that other supervised consumption sites near schools and daycare sites will be closed for good.

The locations and plans can be found in the following document: (source: Ministry of Health)

Sites for transition by CityNewsToronto on Scribd

“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,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

“Through these nine new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hubs … we are taking the next step in our plan to keep communities safe while improving access to mental health and addiction services.”

The transitions 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 move that faced some resistance from advocates.

One study suggested the move will result in an increase in public drug usage, overdoses and overdose deaths due to a severe reduction in safe spaces to use drugs in the presence of trained health professionals.

But the province points out that it’s investing even more money into treatment that will ultimately help people get back on their feet rather than stuck in the perpetual horrors of addiction.

“These hubs will be eligible, on average, to receive up to four times more funding to support treatment and recovery under the model than they receive from the province as a consumption site,” a Ministry of Health release states.

“To assist with transitioning, the sites will also receive one-time funding for start-up costs.”

However, Toronto Public Health tells CityNews funding details have not yet been provided.

“We have not yet been informed of the exact funding allocated, so the services available at the HART Hub to be run by Toronto Public Health remain to be determined,” A TPH spokesperson said.

The province notes that it made the case for closing and transitioning injection sites as a response “to serious safety concerns raised by communities, families and parents.”

“We are investing more than any government in Ontario’s history to create a nation-leading system of mental health and addictions care,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

“The new HART Hubs will give people struggling with addiction the support and treatment services they need to achieve lasting recovery.”