The province has opened one of its new “HART Hubs” in Brampton after scrapping safe consumption site programs across Ontario.

The Urgent Public Health Need Site at 10 Peel Centre Dr. in Brampton was initially going to be spared under Ontario’s Community Care and Recovery Act, which led to the closure of around a dozen safe consumption sites last year.

The program run by Moyo Health and Community Services wound down last April, and delivered services to over 210 unique visitors with over 760 total visits for “life-saving intervention,” according to the Region of Peel.

But the province has brought some mental health and addiction services back to Brampton with the opening of a HART Hub to connect people to treatment and recovery services, including primary care, mental health services, addictions care, social services, and employment support. The hubs also help people obtain basic needs such as food, clothing and more.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Peel Dufferin is the lead agency providing services at the hub, along with local partner organizations like Moyo Health and Community Services, Peel Addiction Assessment and Referral Centre, and Roots Community Services.

“The opening of this new HART Hub will ensure that people struggling with mental health and addiction challenges in Peel Region can access support services that prioritize their path to recovery and strengthen community safety,” Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Vijay Thanigasalam said in a release.

The Brampton HART Hub is located at 10 Peel Centre Drive, along with other Region of Peel services.

Ontario is expanding the network of HART Hubs with a new Kingston location, bringing the total to 29 hubs, supported by an investment of more than $560 million. The province says HART Hubs will also add close to 900 supportive housing units across the province, over 300 more than originally planned.

The region has said drug toxicity is a growing concern in Peel with 705 death due to opioid toxicity between 2019 and 2023. Another 70 opioid-related deaths were reported between January and September 2024.


INsauga’s Editorial Standards and Policies

Last 30 Days: 27,806 Votes

All Time: 1,289,234 Votes

1096 VOTES
Do you think children and young teens should be banned from social media?

WIN A $100 GIFT CARD

Subscribe to INsauga’s daily email newsletter for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.