CMHA Thames Valley to open new HART hub location in London with 60 beds in spring

The Ontario government announced Monday that it will open 18 new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs across the province, including one in London, by April 1.
The London hub will be operated by Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley, Ontario's largest branch of the organization. It will have 60 beds at a location that hasn't yet been finalized, plus another 60 beds scattered across existing shelters throughout the city.
"All Ontarians, including those struggling with mental health and addiction challenges deserve convenient access to care, to support, to resources and treatment options," Health Minister Sylvia Jones said at an announcement at CMHA's office in London.
The 18 hubs are an addition to the nine existing locations, which were former supervised consumption sites that transitioned into hubs after they were closed due to their proximity to schools and daycare centres. The total 27 hubs will be funded through a $529 million investment.
CMHA Thames Valley submitted its proposal to open a HART hub in September, one month after the province announced the move to close supervised consumption sites and needle exchanges within 200 metres of schools and childcare centres.
HART hubs resemble existing hub models, including two in London, and will connect people with complex mental health and addictions needs to comprehensive treatment and preventative services such as primary care, mental health services, addictions care, social services and employment support.
The provincial hubs will have similar services to the Youth Opportunities Unlimited hub and Atlohsa's hub at Parkwood Institute for Indigenous people.
"I'm so thrilled that through HART hub funding, there will be a place for clients to have wraparound supports on their journey to wellness," said the local CMHA branch's CEO Pam Tobin.
"Projects are already underway that will continue to expand capacity of London's supportive housing units and affordable housing to ensure clients have a pathway to long-term sustainable housing solutions."
The province estimates hubs will add 540 highly supportive housing units across all 27 HART hubs, in addition to addiction recovery and treatment beds, said Jones.
The 18 new HART Hubs that have been approved by the province are:
Fourcast – Four Counties Addictions Services Team (Peterborough).
CMHA Peel Dufferin (Brampton).
Health Sciences North/ Horizon Santé Nord (Greater Sudbury).
The HART of Simcoe (Barrie).
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (Windsor).
CMHA Hastings and Prince Edward County (Belleville).
Durham Community Health Centre (Oshawa).
CMHA Thames Valley (London).
CMHA Algoma (Sault Ste. Marie).
Services and Housing in Province (Dufferin County).
Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health (Lanark, Leeds and Grenville).
Oxford Ontario Health Team (Oxford County).
County of Renfrew (Renfrew County).
Gateway of Niagara (Niagara).
CMHA Lambton Kent Sarnia (Sarnia).
Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre (Ottawa).
Kenora Chiefs Advisory (Kenora).
Maamwesying (Sault Ste. Marie).

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