NEWS RELEASE
COUNTY OF SIMCOE
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The County of Simcoe, along with identified key partners, recognizes a considerable need for integrated community-based services to address a homelessness health crisis through the establishment of a Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub.
As such, the County of Simcoe has applied to the Government of Ontario to host one of 10 HART facilities in the province.
Primary partners included as part of the application are Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team, Barrie Native Friendship Centre, Canadian Mental Health Association — Simcoe County branch, (CMHA SCB), Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin IIPCT/Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle (BANAC), Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, and Barrie Cares.
Since launching its 10-point homelessness prevention strategy in 2023, the county has been making significant investments and enhancements to social services programs and supports in Barrie and our communities. Within this 10-point plan, the pillars we have created include improving safety and well-being, creating easier ways to access services, enhancing our community shelter services and standards, and finding new opportunities. The HART Hub is one more tool that is available to us to complement these pillars and provide even better support for this vulnerable population within our community.
In addition to supporting this pillar, we also believe this project will help increase our efforts to move residents who have been living “rough” or staying in shelters to more stable housing outcomes. We’ve seen this by providing wraparound supports in our Supportive Rapid Rehousing Program, transitional and supportive housing, and we believe this project presents this same opportunity in addition to the support with addictions and mental health.
Communities whose applications have been approved to house one of the 10 provincial HART Hubs will be announced by the Ontario Ministry of Health in December 2024.
This is just one more way that the county is #BuildingUp our communities. For updates on how the County of Simcoe is investing in our communities, visit simcoe.ca/BuildingUp.
Quotes
“We know that within the unhoused population in Simcoe County, a large majority of people are in need of greater supports than simply housing. That is why, when we saw the Ontario government’s proposal to facilitate these new HART facilities across the province, we knew that with our existing 10-point homelessness prevention strategy, we were prepared to take this on for our communities and support those who need it.” — Basil Clarke, warden, County of Simcoe
“The Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT) is committed to ensuring everyone in our community — including those facing challenges of homelessness and addiction — can access the care they need, when they need it. With the application for a new HART Hub, we have the opportunity to bring these much-needed mental health and addiction supports directly to this vulnerable population. By working together with our partners, we can create a space where individuals can access safe and compassionate care that can truly transform their lives. We’re proud to support this initiative and look forward to making a meaningful impact within Simcoe County.” — Tracey Fletcher, chair, BAOHT and operations director, medicine, Innisfil Health and Wellness Centre (Rizzardo), RVH
“We know that mental health and addiction challenges cannot be separated from the broader issues of homelessness and social instability. The proposed HART Hub will offer a vital, integrated response that meets individuals where they are, providing the services they need to heal and thrive. We are eager to see the positive impact this collaboration will have on our community.” — Dr. Jennifer Fillingham, interim CEO, CMHA SCB
“Collaborative and trauma-informed initiatives that address mental health and addictions needs have been identified as Indigenous key priorities in the region. As an Indigenous-led and Indigenous-governed organization, BANAC is proud to support this initiative as an Indigenous collaborator and to work with partners to support Indigenous communities.” — Lynn Monague-Sauve, president, Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle
“RVH’s purpose is to be there for our community in providing the care they need when they need it. To be effective in meeting this purpose, we look for opportunities to collaborate with partners, combining expertise and resources to best serve our community. Between all the partners and RVH’s ability to support with the addiction recovery aspect of the HART Hub, we will be able to support the treatment, recovery and housing needs of the most vulnerable individuals within our community.” — Gail Hunt, president and CEO, RVH
“Our HART Hub application will offer a range of services to our community’s most vulnerable. This includes Indigenous health and wellness programming, substance use treatment, specialized mental health care and transitional and supportive housing. Through taking a collaborative approach we are confident that we can build a truly innovative and highly impactful model.” — Dr. Kevin Young, vice-president, medical affairs and chief of staff, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
“Barrie Native Friendship Centre supports and responds to the needs of the urban Indigenous community in Barrie and is hopeful the services that will be provided by the HART Hub will improve the lives of all community members served by this process and lead to a more integrated approach in addressing addictions and homelessness.” — Samantha Kinoshameg, executive director, Barrie Native Friendship Centre
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