Item - 2025.HL22.2

Item HL22.2 was withdrawn from the agenda and will be considered at a future meeting date.

Last year, as part of their announcement that new legislation would force the closure of safe consumption sites across the province, the Provincial government introduced funding for the creation of new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs. Supervised Consumption Service sites impacted by the legislation, including the site operated by Toronto Public Health, were invited to apply to transition their services into Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hubs. Toronto Public Health, in partnership with multiple City Divisions, hospital, health, and community partners, applied to the Ministry of Health to establish the Downtown Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub and received approval on January 2nd.

While the Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub model does not replace the need for supervised consumption services, the treatment, mental health, social and primary care services that will be offered through the Hub are valuable and much-needed in the downtown core.

The Government of Ontario legislated new requirements for operating supervised consumption services that will lead to the closure of five sites in Toronto by March 31, 2025. This includes the closure of the supervised consumption service operated by Toronto Public Health (The Works), currently located at 277 Victoria Street.  

Supervised Consumption Service sites impacted by the legislation, including the site operated by Toronto Public Health, were invited to apply to transition their services into Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs. Toronto Public Health, in partnership with multiple City Divisions, hospital, health, and community partners, applied to the Ministry of Health to establish the Downtown Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub.

The Downtown Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub will aim to improve health of City residents by facilitating access to health care services for people who use drugs, including improved access to treatment and recovery services, and integrated pathways to wrap-around supports such as mental health care and housing. Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub services can include some interventions that can help prevent the spread of bloodborne infections in the community.

On January 2, 2025, Toronto Public Health received confirmation from the Ministry of Health that the City of Toronto's Downtown Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub has been approved 'in principle.' This report provides an overview of plans to establish the City of Toronto's Downtown Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub.