A new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub is now operational in Kingston, replacing the Integrated Care Hub, which had the last provincially funded drug consumption site.
Operating out of the same Montreal Street location as the now-closed Integrated Care Hub, which closed Tuesday, the HART Hub will offer a “co-ordinated, person-centred approach supporting people experiencing mental health challenges, substance use, and housing instability,” reads a news release issued by Addiction and Mental Healh Services – Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington.
The HART Hub will remain at the same location as the ICH, 661 Montreal St., until a permanent location is identified, the same release said. It will continue to offer mental health and addictions care, primary health care, and other supports.
The release from AMHS-KFLA, which will serve as the lead agency, stated that services will be extended to the region later this year, while supportive transitional and long-term housing will become operational once locations have been secured.
The provincial government announced in April that Kingston would be getting a HART Hub to replace the Integrated Care Hub, which offered a supervised drug consumption site and needle exchange.
The Ontario government invested $560 million to creating the new HART Hubs, read a Ministry of Health news release.
“The opening of the Kingston HART Hub is an important milestone to build upon and expand access to care for the individuals we serve. No single organization can address the complex challenges associated with mental health, substance use, and housing insecurity alone,” AMHS-KFLA CEO Betty Jo Dean stated in the province’s news release.
“Through strong partnerships and a shared commitment to person-centered care, the HART Hub will help address needs and connect individuals to co-ordinated services that promote stability, recovery, and hope. We are grateful to the province of Ontario for its investment in this important initiative, one that will strengthen and increase access to integrated health, housing, and social supports in our community.”
The Kingston Whig-Standard
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