Homelessness and addiction hubs in Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury face delays opening
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Treatment (HART) hubs in northeastern Ontario are still waiting for final approvals from the province to start operating.
On the eve of the provincial election, Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced 19 new HART hubs would be operational by April 1.
The hubs would provide access to recovery and treatment systems for people struggling with addictions and mental health issues, but would not provide any safe drug consumption services.
Lisa Case is the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Algoma, which was chosen to run the HART hub in Sault Ste. Marie.
She said the organization has submitted its budget with the province for the planned hub.
Ontario's Ministry of Health and Ontario Health have reviewed that submission, Case said, but now she's waiting for additional feedback.
"We have received updated terms and conditions related to that funding that we're reviewing with our partners and responding with some additional questions, but we're still in that holding pattern right now," Case said.
She said the province has allocated CMHA Algoma a budget of $6.31 million annually over three years to run its HART hub.
Case added the services are especially needed in northern Ontario.
"We've been hit harder across the north in spite of the creativity that we've used as community partners and the interventions we're able to provide," she said.
"We're seeing just the volumes of individuals seeking help and then often the distance to get help."
The City of Greater Sudbury will run a HART Hub in collaboration with the Health Sciences North hospital.
The city says it's still finalizing logistical details but should have more concrete information to share by next week.
Ema Popovic, a spokesperson for Ontario's health minister, said in an email to CBC News that nine HART hubs in the province that were previously supervised drug consumption sites opened on April 1.
That includes the NorWest Community Health Centre in Thunder Bay.
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