The county is applying to house the homeless and an addiction treatment center

NEWS RELEASE
SIMCOE COUNTY
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Simcoe County, along with identified key partners, recognizes a significant need for integrated community-based services to address a homeless health crisis by establishing a Homeless Recovery Treatment Center and addiction (HART).

As such, Simcoe County has applied to the Ontario government to host one of the province’s 10 HART facilities.

Major partners included as part of the application are Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team, Barrie Native Friendship Centre, Canadian Mental Health Association – Simcoe County Branch, (CMHA SCB), Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin IIPCT/Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle ( BANAC), Royal Victoria Regional Health Center (RVH), Waypoint Center for Mental Health Care and Barrie Cares.

Since launching its 10-point homelessness prevention strategy by 2023, the county has been making significant investments and improvements to social service programs and supports in Barrie and our communities. Within this 10-point plan, the pillars we have created include improving safety and wellbeing, creating easier ways to access services, improving our community care services and standards and research of new opportunities. The HART Hub is one more tool at our disposal to complement these pillars and provide even better support to this vulnerable population in our community.

In addition to supporting this pillar, we also believe that this project will help increase our efforts to move residents who have been living “roughly” or staying in shelters into more stable housing outcomes. We’ve seen this in providing comprehensive supports in our Rapid Supportive Rehousing Program, transitional and supportive housing, and we believe this project presents that same opportunity in addition to addictions and mental health support.

Communities whose applications have been approved to host one of the 10 provincial HART centers will be announced by the Ontario Ministry of Health in December 2024.

This is just one more way the county is #BuildingOurCommunities. For updates on how Simcoe County is investing in our communities, visit simcoe.ca/BuildingUp.

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“We know that within the unhoused population in Simcoe County, a large majority of people need greater supports than just housing. That’s why, when we saw the Ontario government’s proposal to facilitate these new HART facilities across the province, we knew that with our existing 10-point homelessness prevention strategy, we were ready to take it on for our communities and support those in need.” — Basil Clarke, Warden, Simcoe County

“The Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT) is committed to ensuring that everyone in our community, including those facing challenges of homelessness and addiction, can access the care they need, when they need it. With the request for a new HART center, we have the opportunity to bring these much-needed mental health and addiction supports directly to this vulnerable population.Working together with our partners, we can create a space where people can access safe and compassionate care that can truly transform their lives. We are proud to support this initiative and look forward to making a significant impact in Simcoe County.” — Tracey Fletcher, President, BAOHT and Chief Operating Officer, Medicine, Innisfil Health and Wellness Center (Rizzardo), RVH

“We know that the challenges of mental health and addiction cannot be separated from the wider issues of homelessness and social instability. The proposed HART center will provide an integrated and vital response that fits people where they are, providing the services that need to heal and thrive. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will have on our community.” — Dr. Jennifer Fillingham, Interim CEO, CMHA SCB

“Collaborative and trauma-informed initiatives that address mental health and addictions needs have been identified as key Indigenous priorities in the region. As an Indigenous-led and Indigenous-governed organisation, BANAC is proud to give support for this initiative as an indigenous collaborator and to work with partners to support indigenous communities.” — Lynn Monague-Sauve, Chair, Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle

“RVH’s goal is to be there for our community by providing the care they need when they need it. To effectively achieve this purpose, we seek opportunities to collaborate with partners, combining expertise and resources to better serve our community. Between all the partners and RVH’s ability to support the addiction recovery aspect of the HART Hub, we will be able to support the treatment, recovery and housing needs of the most vulnerable people in our community.” — Gail Hunt, President and CEO, RVH

“Our HART Hub app will provide a range of services to the most vulnerable in our community. This includes Indigenous health and wellness programming, substance use treatment, specialized mental health care, and transitional and supportive housing. Through a collaborative approach, we are confident that we can build a truly innovative and high-impact model.” — Dr. Kevin Young, Vice President, Medical Affairs and Chief of Staff, Waypoint Center for Mental Health Care

“The Barrie Native Friendship Center supports and responds to the needs of Barrie’s urban Indigenous community and hopes that the services to be provided by the HART Hub will improve the lives of all community members served by this process and lead to an approach more integrated. to address addictions and homelessness.” — Samantha Kinoshameg, Executive Director, Barrie Native Friendship Center

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