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An organization’s push to have Oxford County council endorse a homeless and addiction treatment facility in its region has received support from politicians.
Councillors voted at Wednesday morning’s meeting to support the Oxford Ontario Health Team’s application to the provincial government for funding to build a so-called homelessness and addiction recovery treatment (HART) hub.
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The group, made up of local health professionals and citizens, intends to apply for funding by Oct. 18 but needed a letter of support from county politicians to be eligible.
“I’m really thankful for all the organizations that have put input into this application,” said Jerry Acchione, Woodstock’s mayor. “There’s been a lot of work, and I’m really hopeful that we’re successful as, no question, Woodstock and all of Oxford County need something like this.”
In August, the province announced $378 million for 19 HART hubs across the province that will offer primary care, mental health and addiction help, social services, beds and supportive housing.
A three-year demonstration project would support the creation of the hubs. Ontario’s health ministry would provide $6.3 million annually including an additional one-time $1.8 million for each facility to cover start-up expenses.
Oxford County Warden Marcus Ryan said it was “absolutely the right thing to do to move forward and support” a HART hub. Coun. Bernia Martin also expressed support.
“The necessity of (HART) hubs for treatment is widely needed here in Oxford County (and) across the entire province, but it’s definitely needed here in Oxford County,” Martin said.
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She called the HART hubs a step in the right direction toward helping people facing mental health struggles, addiction and homelessness. But she expressed disappointment in the province’s decision to back away from harm reduction services such as supervised drug-use sites.
A year ago, Queen’s Park launched a review of supervised drug-use sites – where people can use illegal drugs under supervision – after a mother of two was killed by a stray bullet near one such facility in Toronto. The sites have received renewed negative attention after someone died of an overdose at the facility located on York Street near downtown in London last week.
Southwestern Public Health – the health unit for Oxford County – was eyeing Woodstock as a potential location for one of the facilities, but the proposal faced staunch citizen opposition.
HART hubs are expected to be fully operational by winter 2025.
The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada
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