The Ontario government is launching several Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs throughout the province, moving away from supervised consumption sites, including a new location in Oshawa.
According to a news release, the Oshawa HART Hub will be situated at 78 Richmond St. W. and will provide clients with access to clinical care, social services, and other essential support. This hub is one of 29 being established across the province as supervised consumption sites gradually close. It will offer primary healthcare, mental health services, case management for both mental health conditions and addictions, assistance with income supports, social services and employment help, housing resources, and Indigenous services.
This new hub marks the second in the area after a similar facility opened in Whitby earlier this year.
The Ontario government mentioned that this new hub is part of its $560 million investment aimed at creating over two dozen HART Hubs. They believe this initiative will enhance public safety while helping individuals dealing with mental health issues, housing instability, and addiction problems to find pathways to long-term recovery.
In contrast to safe consumption sites, HART Hubs do not provide safer supply options or supervised drug use programs.
In 2024, Premier Doug Ford’s administration prohibited consumption sites from operating within 200 metres of schools or daycares. This decision targets ten sites slated for closure by March 2025.
Many of these locations opted to transition into HART Hubs (the new abstinence-based model) before shutting down.
Furthermore, the government has banned any new consumption sites from opening altogether.
This crackdown followed the tragic shooting death of Karolina Huebner-Makurat-a 44-year-old mother-who was caught in crossfire near a safe consumption site in Leslieville Toronto in 2023.
Huebner-Makurat was walking past the clinic located at Queen St. E. and Carlaw Ave., when she was shot during an altercation involving three alleged drug dealers.
A December 2025 trial resulted in one of those men being convicted of second-degree murder.
The Ontario government subsequently ordered reviews of 17 consumption sites across the province following this incident.
“We are building a stronger, more connected system of mental health and addictions care that better reflects the needs of communities and focuses on lasting recovery,” said Vijay Thanigasalam, associate minister of mental health and addictions, in a statement.
“The opening of this new HART Hub will ensure that people struggling with mental health and addictions challenges in Durham Region can access support services that prioritizes their path to recovery and strengthen community safety.”
The Oshawa HART Hub is already providing services through Canadian Mental Health Association Durham as its leading agency. Other involved organizations include Mission United Program, Mission United Physicians Services, The Back Door Mission, Lakeridge Health Oshawa, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Durham Community Health Clinic, John Howard Society and Region of Durham.
The province also noted that HART Hubs aim to add nearly 900 supportive housing units across Ontario.
“We welcome the new HART Hub in Oshawa where recovery-focused care will connect individuals in need to coordinate wrap-around mental health and addictions services,” stated Mayor Dan Carter.
“We sincerely thank the Province of Ontario for its significant investment and for expanding the HART Hub network into Oshawa in partnership with CMHA Durham.”
With files from The Canadian Press
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