Sault scrambles to prepare bid for homelessness, addiction hub

Local officials are racing to beat a tight Oct. 18 deadline for funding applications for Ontario's Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub program.

Last month, the Ontario government announced it will spend $378 million to set up 19 HART Hubs across the province.

Ten will be new hubs, while the other nine will be former safe consumption sites converted to the HART Hub model.

The program will add as many as 375 highly supportive housing units, as well as addiction recovery and treatment beds.

Next Tuesday, Sault Ste. Marie city council will be asked to lend its support to the city's application.

"The province has clarified that, with a focus on treatment and recovery, HART Hubs will not offer 'safer' supply, supervised drug consumption or needle exchange programs," says Tom Vair, the city's chief administrative officer.

"Sault Ste. Marie and region can demonstrate a very clear need for a HART Hub. Based on the data and experience of front-line staff, there is no question that the funding and services for a HART Hub are acutely needed in the community," Vair says in a report prepared for next week's city council meeting.

Each community chosen to host a hub will receive a budget of $6.3 million a year per hub, with $1.3 million allocated for supportive housing.

$1.8 million will be granted in 2024-25 for one- time start-up and implementation costs for each hub.

Operational funding will begin in 2025-2026 through to 2027-2028.

"The intention is that HART Hubs will be operational by winter 2025," Vair says.

The idea is to design HART Hubs that reflect regional priorities, connecting individuals with complex needs to comprehensive treatment and preventative services.

Those services might include:

• primary care
• mental health services
• addiction care and support
• social services and employment support
• shelter and transition beds
• supportive housing
• mother supplies and services, including naloxone, onsite showers and food

In the Sault, Canadian Mental Health Association Algoma is leading the drive to win a HART Hub for the community.

Other local collaborators include:

• Algoma Family Services 
• Algoma Ontario Health Team
• Algoma Public Health
• District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board Sault Ste. Marie
• Garden River First Nation
• Group Health Centre
• Maamwesying Ontario Health Team
• Mamaweswen - North Shore Tribal Council
• Nogdawindamin
• Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services
• Ontario Disability Support Program
• Sault Area Hospital
• Sault Community Health Centre
• Willow Addiction Support Services

"An important component of the application for Sault Ste. Marie and region is working with Indigenous partners to support the development of culturally safe and relevant care pathways," Vair says.

Tuesday's city council meeting will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.