Hastings County council has unanimously supported an application to the province for $6.3 million a year for the creation and operation of the Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment or HART Hub.
Hastings County would be the service manager for the program which would involve a collaboration between several social service agencies to help those dealing with addictions and mental health issues.
The provincial government has set aside $378 million to support 19 HART Hubs across the province.
Hastings County CAO Connor Dorey says although there’s no guarantee of success, the group is optimistic their application will be approved.
“When we look at the metrics, the number of individuals that this community could support, the lack of investments over time and just that clear need within the community it puts this area in a better position to see a successful application.”
Another positive for the local application is The Bridge Integrated Services hub which should be ready soon to serve the vulnerable population.
A few members of council congratulated Belleville council on declaring a State of Emergency and investing over $4 million into facilities for the homeless and/or addicted population.
However, Deputy Warden of the County and Mayor of Bancroft Paul Jenkins worried that permanent facilities like housing and washrooms for North Hastings weren’t part of the funding application. Dorey acknowledged that but replied that county staff were always looking for ways to upgrade supports in the north and were setting aside one million dollars each year in a capital account for housing for that population.
In the HART Hub application, rural areas would be regularly served by mobile outreach teams.
Hastings County Council held a special meeting Tuesday to endorse the concept as the deadline for submission to the province is this Thursday.
See the entire HART Hub presentation here.
