On August 20, 2024, the Government of Ontario announced Consumption and Treatment Services within 200m of childcare centres or schools must close by March 31, 2025. The Government then introduced Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs.

The goal of HART Hubs is to provide integrated support to people experiencing complex health and social issues related to substance use and addictions. HART Hubs aim to connect people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing their housing and/or people who have mental health, addictions and substance use health needs to treatment and preventative services. 

The Ottawa OHT-ÉSO is a proud partner of the Somerset West Community Health Centre’s (SWCHC) HART Hub. The vision for the SWCHC HART Hub is: 

Where compassion meets care, providing housing and healing with dignity. 

The SWCHC HART Hub is designed as a low-barrier, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, 24/7 healthcare model that integrates primary care, mental health, substance use treatment, housing with supports, and health systems navigation. By combining targeted community outreach and co-located services, the SWCHC HART Hub is addressing increasing community needs and ensures individuals with complex health and housing challenges can access the care and support they need for stability, recovery, and long-term success.

Ottawa OHT-ÉSO is an active member of the HART Hub Advisory Committee and co-chair of the Data and Evaluation Table (DET) where our team co-developed the initial performance measurement and evaluation plan for the HART Hub.