The Ontario government is funding a new Homelessness Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub in Barrie. This is part of a $529 million plan to create 27 HART hubs across the province. Barrie will receive nearly $19 million for the project.
The new hub was announced at Barrie City Hall in the presence of several dignitaries, including Mayor Alex Nuttall, Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte, and Andrea Khanjin, MPP for Barrie–Innisfil.
“We are incredibly happy and thankful to receive close to $20 million for this investment,” Nuttall said. “Today’s announcement for the HART Hub, which constitutes to $6.3 million a year for three years, is an investment into addiction services, referral to housing and all great services that are needed to help individuals.”
Nuttall highlighted the funding’s personal importance, driven by his commitment to expanding treatment and rehabilitation services in Barrie.
“This investment is going to be life changing and it will help individuals who are going through immense pain,” he said.
Downey said that addressing homelessness and addiction through increased investments has been a collaborative effort.
“We are all coming together for the same reason to deal with the challenges we have in our community,” he said. “The impact on our community is going to be significant.”
Khanjin also said that the investments in the new hub reflect a strong and collaborative partnership between the municipality, the province, and local community leaders.
“It’s about building bridges between people – it really going to give our whole community a bridge building approach,” she said. “We are working as a team, we are working as an entire community because when we see a need, we all talk together and so our government has seen the need.”
The Barrie hub is currently in the planning phase and will offer a range of services, including primary care, Indigenous health and wellness programs, mental health and addiction support, peer assistance, and transitional housing. Additional services will include supportive housing for those navigating mental health and addiction challenges, as well as vocational training, employment assistance, and other support programs.
Among the notable attendees at the announcement were County of Simcoe Warden Basil Clarke, along with Barrie councillors Clare Riepma, Craig Nixon, Ann-Marie Kungl, and Nigussie Nigussie.
