The Metropolis of Ottawa is making ready for the Somerset West Group Well being Centre to shut its consumption and therapy companies (CTS) website in March.
The municipality utilized for the province’s Homelessness and Habit Restoration Remedy (HART) Hubs funding, which is about to create 19 websites throughout Ontario.
“Open substance use in public spaces in Ottawa will continue unless people have somewhere safer to use substances, whether inhaling or injecting, and unless people have access to mental health and addictions treatment when they need it,” a memo to council from Dr. Vera Etches, medical officer of well being and Clara Freire, common supervisor, group and social companies division, reads.
Ottawa is hoping the province will settle for its software for funding and transition the Somerset West Group Well being Centre to the brand new program.
The centre’s CTS is the one website in Ottawa being pressured to shut by the province as a result of it’s lower than 200 metres away from a college or a baby care centre. Ontario introduced new restrictions on CTS websites in August and continues to obtain backlash from well being specialists and advocates.
The coverage, that was tabled Monday within the Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act, will pressure the closure of 10 provincially funded websites and require cities to hunt provincial approval earlier than supporting new CTSs.
The alternative HART Hubs are anticipated to get a $6.3 million per 12 months funding with as much as $1.3 million per 12 months only for supportive housing. The objective of the hubs is to offer folks with advanced well being and social points associated to substance use and addictions additional assist and join them with housing.
In response to the funding opening, Ottawa utilized for 2 HART Hubs, one to transition the Somerset West Group Well being Centre. The second is a brand new facility positioned in west Ottawa. The applying was submitted by the Pinecrest Queensway Group Well being Centre on behalf of 25 different companions.
The applying for the west Ottawa proposed website will probably be “competitive,” the memo notes, it’s because the province is prioritizing centres which have present infrastructure and relationships with the group.
The memo notes that as a result of metropolis’s distinctive traits and inhabitants, the HART Hubs are wanted. One of many issues the town hopes the hubs will assist is the necessity for transitioning folks to everlasting housing. There are over 2,800 folks ready on the centralized waitlist, 400 of these are experiencing homelessness.
Housing will probably be primarily supported via Ottawa Salus and Ottawa Group Housing.
“These ongoing conversations will focus on inter-sectorial collaboration to optimize supports and enhance available resources and identify opportunities for system transformation,” the memo concludes.
