Renfrew County is introducing its approach to Ontario’s HART Hub treatment model: a network of agencies and services starting near the Pembroke waterfront.
The intake centre at 156 John St. operates 24/7 and can connect individuals seeking housing, job assistance, or mental health support, including for addictions, to various resources available for help.
This includes 10 supportive treatment beds at a local motel and 12 short-term beds at the Carefor Mackay Centre retirement home and support centre that have been accessible since October.
Participating organizations include the Pembroke hospital, The Grind non-profit café, and the nearby Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. The province is investing $6.3 million over three years into this initiative.
County and provincial officials marked the official opening of the hub on Thursday, but efforts to reach this point date back several months.
Renfrew County launched its Mesa project in 2024 to seek a coordinated solution for addressing mental health issues and substance use challenges. Its HART Hub received approval last January.
WATCH | CBC follows the mesa project in its early months:
In its bid against fentanyl, one Ontario town is taking its fight to the streets
When you’re a town with just 14,000 residents, every opioid overdose feels personal. CBC’s Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco visited Pembroke, which is exploring new ways to tackle the growing drug crisis. CBC accompanied paramedics during critical calls and witnessed how their strategy unfolds.
Eighty-four Renfrew County residents lost their lives due to opioid toxicity from 2020 until late 2024, as reported by Public Health Ontario. There were also 316 emergency room visits during that same period related to these issues.
These figures don’t include health emergencies from other types of drugs or other negative effects of addiction that the county aims to address.
Regarding housing needs, Renfrew County’s community housing waitlist currently has more than 2,000 households waiting for assistance.
The ruling Progressive Conservatives in Ontario have opted for HART Hubs rather than supervised drug consumption sites, claiming they provide a better path for treatment access. These hubs do not offer supervised drug consumption or needle exchange programs.
Renfrew County’s hub marks the fifth one established in eastern Ontario, joining Belleville; a joint Brockville-Smiths Falls location; and two facilities in Ottawa.
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In its bid against fentanyl, one Ontario town is taking its fight to the streets
When you’re a town with just 14,000 residents, every opioid overdose feels personal. CBC’s Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco visited Pembroke, which is exploring new ways to tackle the growing drug crisis. CBC accompanied paramedics during critical calls and witnessed how their strategy unfolds.
Eighty-four Renfrew County residents lost their lives due to opioid toxicity from 2020 until late 2024, as reported by Public Health Ontario. There were also 316 emergency room visits during that same period related to these issues.
These figures don’t include health emergencies from other types of drugs or other negative effects of addiction that the county aims to address.
Regarding housing needs, Renfrew County’s community housing waitlist currently has more than 2,000 households waiting for assistance.
The ruling Progressive Conservatives in Ontario have opted for HART Hubs rather than supervised drug consumption sites, claiming they provide a better path for treatment access. These hubs do not offer supervised drug consumption or needle exchange programs.
Renfrew County’s hub marks the fifth one established in eastern Ontario, joining Belleville; a joint Brockville-Smiths Falls location; and two facilities in Ottawa.
Source link
