The Ontario government has expanded access to mental health and addictions care with the opening of a new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub in Lambton County, part of a nearly $550-million provincial investment to establish 28 HART Hubs across Ontario.
The Lambton County hub is intended to improve access to recovery and treatment services for people facing housing instability, mental health challenges and substance use issues, while also supporting community safety across the region.
“We are building a stronger, more connected system of mental health and addictions care that better reflects the needs of communities and focuses on lasting recovery,” said Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Vijay Thanigasalam. “The opening of this new HART Hub will ensure that people struggling with mental health and addictions challenges in Lambton County can get the care they need on their path to recovery, while keeping the community safe.”
HART Hubs connect individuals to a range of coordinated services, including primary care, mental health and addictions treatment, social services and employment supports. In Lambton County, the hub is operating in collaboration with partners such as the Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton Kent, Bluewater Health, the County of Lambton, the North Lambton Community Health Centre and the Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we are delivering the people of Sarnia a connected health-care system. The Lambton County HART Hub brings together housing, primary care, and addiction treatment under one roof. This is about more than just health care; it’s about restoring dignity and building a stronger, healthier Lambton County,” said Anthony Leardi, parliamentary assistant to the minister of health and MPP for Essex.
Sarnia—Lambton MPP Bob Bailey said the opening represents an important step for the community. “The opening of the Lambton HART Hub marks another significant milestone for our community. I want to thank Premier Ford, Minister Jones, Associate Minister Thanigasalam and the Province of Ontario for their leadership and partnership in making the HART Hub a reality. The Lambton HART Hub will save lives in our community.”
Lambton—Kent—Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault also highlighted the local impact of the new hub. “The Lambton County HART Hub is a major step forward for mental health and addictions support in our community. By combining health care, housing, and social services in one place, it will help people get the care they need quickly and support them on their path to stability and recovery.”
The Lambton County HART Hub includes transitional recovery beds at a Wellington Street location and operates a drop-in centre on Lochiel Street. It forms part of the province’s broader Roadmap to Wellness and Your Health plans, which focus on expanding integrated mental health and addictions services, increasing supportive housing and strengthening access to care across Ontario.
