Barrie seeks provincial funding for new addiction treatment hub

Barrie city councillors hope to secure funding for a new Homelessness and Addiction Response Treatment (HART) hub to support individuals struggling on the streets.

This initiative comes after previous efforts to establish a safe consumption site were stalled earlier this year when the provincial government changed its approach, which ultimately led to the application being pulled.

In August, the province announced its push for HART hubs, pledging $378 million to set up 19 such centres across Ontario, and the City wants a piece.

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According to Mayor Alex Nuttall, the County of Simcoe is leading the charge on the application process, with support from the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

The Barrie mayor, a longtime supporter of this type of treatment model, believes the HART hubs would offer long-term support for those struggling with addiction.

"As you look forward over the past seven or eight years, and you see the results of what's happened with the lack of rehabilitative and treatment services, with the lack of capacity for individuals who are suffering these mental health and addictions diseases, it shows us that it's gotten out of control.

We probably should have taken a more comprehensive tack to begin with, which is to invest in treatment, to invest in rehabilitation, to invest in somebody's long-term health," Nuttall said.

Councillors endorsed the County's application for a HART hub at Wednesday evening's meeting.