Tight timeline for London’s pitch for provincial HART Hub to address addiction and homelessness

London officials are moving quickly to apply for a Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub, supported by provincial funding set to begin next year. Mayor Josh Morgan expressed confidence in London’s ability to submit a strong application, leveraging the city’s experience with its existing hub-based system for homelessness. The Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services (CMHA TVAMHS) has already submitted a letter of intent by the September 20 deadline.

The formal application is due by October 18, with key funding from a $25 million anonymous donation through the Fund for Change. Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced plans for 19 HART Hubs, which will provide comprehensive services, including primary and mental healthcare, addiction services, and supportive housing.

While some locations for existing hubs faced local opposition, the site for the HART Hub remains undecided. Dean Astolfi from CMHA indicated that the hub could serve about 80 people at a time, impacting over 1,000 individuals annually. The city plans to pause the launch of new service hubs until the HART application process is complete, allowing for a stronger alignment of capital and operating funds to support broader regional efforts in Middlesex, Oxford, Elgin, and Huron.

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