Ontario Opens First Nine Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hubs

Starting on April 1, 2025, nine drug injection sites located within 200 metres of a school or child-care centre have successfully transitioned into and opened as new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs. These hubs, located in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph and Thunder Bay, are part of the Ontario government’s almost $550 million investment to support the creation of a total of 28 new HART Hubs across the province to protect the safety of children and families, while improving access to recovery and treatment services for people struggling with addictions. Consistent with HART Hubs’ focus on lasting addictions recovery, provincial funding is contingent on hubs not providing any drug consumption services.

“Communities and families across Ontario have made it clear that drug injection sites near schools and child-care centres make communities unsafe,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Our government is proud to announce the successful transition of these nine sites into new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hubs that will keep our communities safe, while giving those struggling with mental health and addictions challenges hope and the tools they need to break the cycle of addiction.”

In response to serious safety concerns raised by communities, families and parents, the nine provincially funded drug injection sites located within 200 metres of a school or child-care centre were given the opportunity to submit a proposal to transition to a HART Hub. All nine sites were approved and, as of April 1, 2025, will be operational. These HART Hubs will receive up to four times more funding than they did as drug injection sites and will over time provide a range of services to meet local needs such as primary care, mental health services including addiction care and support, peer support, social services and employment support.

“By transitioning these sites into HART Hubs, we’re ensuring that people struggling with addiction get the treatment and support they need to recover,” said Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “At the same time, we’re making sure our schools and child-care centres remain safe for children and families. These new hubs reflect our government’s commitment to helping people build healthier lives while also ensuring the safety of our communities.”

HART Hubs will reflect regional priorities by connecting people with complex needs to comprehensive mental health support and addictions care. HART Hubs will also add an estimated 560 highly supportive housing units, in addition to addiction recovery and treatment beds, which will help people transition to more stable long-term housing.

In addition to the nine sites that successfully transitioned into HART Hubs, 19 new HART Hubs were chosen as a result of a province-wide call for proposals. The government will continue to work with the remaining HART Hubs to bring new, safe and comprehensive mental health, social and addiction services, as well as supportive housing units, to communities across the province as soon as possible.

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care and building on the Roadmap to Wellness, the province is taking action to connect individuals to integrated mental health and addictions services, where and when they need it.

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