The province signals real commitment to transit with $529 million investment. This funding will support the establishment of Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs. This initiative is indicative of a new strategic direction to addressing the overlap between the opioid crisis and homelessness. The plan will result in the creation of 540 supportive housing units. It will pay for 18 additional HART hubs across the province. Since these hubs will not be limited by the frequent restrictions imposed on supervised consumption sites, they will be able to offer a package of life-saving services.
And then on April 1st, at least nine of the existing drug injection sites will convert over to HART hubs. This move is a major departure from the province’s previous approach to address addiction and homelessness. This is a huge step towards implementation of the province’s new law related to supervised consumption sites. The law prohibits the opening of any new sites, as well as the relocation of any. These HART hubs would not get any money to provide drug injection services. As a result, nonprofits should retract those services in order to be eligible for funding.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones has claimed as much with the new direction she announced last summer. She focused on the overall lack of a cohesive strategy to address the opioid crisis. The HART hubs would deliver so much more than today’s supervised consumption sites. They’ll bring people into care sooner with more, faster access to addiction support and treatment.
Angela Robertson, a veteran with a long history of involvement in the transition process, admitted to being more optimistic than excited.
“I feel elated and despondent all at the same time.” – Angela Robertson
She said it was important to keep outside, supervised consumption sites as a complement to the new HART hubs and their staff.
“In the middle of (an) unregulated toxic drug and overdose crisis, we cannot take a zero-sum approach. We need (supervised consumption sites), and all the supports enabled by the HART hubs.” – Angela Robertson
Hannah Jensen highlighted that the primary focus is on protecting children and families from the dangers associated with public drug use near sensitive areas such as schools and daycares.
“Our priority is to protect children and families from violent crime and dangerous public drug use occurring at drug injection sites located near schools and daycares.” – Hannah Jensen
She elucidated the parameters for which provincial money will be released to the HART hubs.
“The transition of the nine drug injection sites to homelessness, addiction and recovery treatment hubs will proceed as planned on April 1st. Provincial funding for HART Hubs cannot be used for drug injection services and will be contingent on the organization not seeking to continue those services.” – Hannah Jensen
For her part, Bill Sinclair said she was thankful that services would still be available after April 1st, shining a light on the life-saving benefits they provide.
“We actually didn’t have a closing plan because we were hopeful and optimistic that we would stay open on April 1st, and now we will.” – Bill Sinclair
“We’re so glad to be providing life-saving services beyond next week.” – Bill Sinclair
We simply cannot lose sight of the astounding work done by these services to protect lives during the current crisis, as Carlo Di Carlo emphasized.
“Today’s decision means people will be allowed to stay alive at least a little bit longer.” – Carlo Di Carlo
The province is committed to setting up HART hubs. With enough ongoing accountability, this critical move will address the intertwined causes of homelessness and addiction. These hubs create successfully inclusive, highly supportive housing spaces. They act through offering expanded treatment services, presenting more well-rounded support for people who need it the most.
