BRAMPTON — The Ontario government is committed to creating safer communities and supporting individuals struggling with addiction and mental health challenges in Brampton by establishing a new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub. This new initiative is part of the province’s broader plan to enhance community safety through a $529 million investment, which will fund a total of 27 HART Hubs across Ontario, while also banning drug injection sites from operating within 200 metres of schools and licensed child-care centres.
“As your local MPP, I am thrilled that Brampton is part of this transformative initiative. The new HART Hub will act as a beacon of hope, offering comprehensive support to those most in need,” said Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. “This $529 million investment reflects our government’s commitment to not just treat, but genuinely help heal our community, fostering recovery and well-being right here in Brampton.”
The Honourable Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity; Member of Provincial Parliament for Brampton Center
Brampton HART Hubs, similar to existing hub models in Ontario that have already provided valuable care, will address regional needs by connecting individuals with complex requirements to comprehensive treatment and preventative services. Planning is already underway for the creation of the HART Hub in Brampton, with proposed services that could include:
• Primary and psychiatric care
• Mental health and addictions services, including assessment, brief treatment, counselling, structured psychotherapy, Rapid Access Addiction Medicine, detox, and addiction medicine prescriptions
• Mental health and addictions supportive housing, shelter, and transitional beds
• Case management for social assistance and employment services
• Diversion supports
“Our government is helping more people get the treatment and support they need, when and where they need it, by taking the next step to improve access to mental health and addictions services,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Our investment to create a total of 27 new HART Hubs will keep communities safe and ensure timely and comprehensive access to mental health support, addiction care, primary care, supportive housing, and employment services, no matter where you live.”
The 18 new HART Hub locations, including Brampton, were selected following a provincewide call for proposals last summer. All HART Hubs are expected to be operational by April 1, 2025. Earlier this year, the province announced that 9 drug injection sites in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, and Thunder Bay, which had to close due to being within 200 metres of schools or licensed child-care centres, will transition into HART Hubs. This will bring the total number of HART Hubs across Ontario to 27, surpassing the initial plan by 8 hubs.
“We are investing more than any government in Ontario’s history to create a nation-leading system of mental health and addictions care,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “The new HART Hubs will provide those struggling with addiction the support and treatment services needed to achieve lasting recovery.”
Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care and building on the Roadmap to Wellness, the province is taking action to connect individuals to integrated mental health and addiction services when and where they need them.
QUICK FACTS
- Ontario is adding an additional 8 HART Hubs to the initial number planned, bringing the total to 27 new HART Hubs.
- The creation of HART Hubs is a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, and the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
- HART Hubs will focus on treatment and recovery, and will not offer supervised drug consumption, safer supply programs, or needle exchange services.
- Under the Community Care and Recovery Act, 2024, Ontario has prohibited municipalities and local boards from applying to Health Canada for exemptions related to the decriminalization of drugs or from requesting funding or agreements for supervised consumption sites without provincial approval.
- Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years through the Roadmap to Wellness to expand mental health and addictions services, create new programs, and improve care.
- Recent investments include:
- $124 million over 3 years to sustain over 380 addiction recovery beds and treatment models like mobile mental health clinics.
- $152 million over 3 years for supportive housing for individuals facing mental health and addiction challenges.
- Over $22 million over 4 years to create 10 new Youth Wellness Hubs, increasing the total number of hubs to 32.
- More than $650 million annually for the Homelessness Prevention Program and $41.5 million for the Indigenous Supportive Housing Program.
- Up to $16 million to support Police-Partnered Mobile Crisis Response Teams in over 50 communities.
- Over $60 million annually to support Indigenous-led mental health, addictions, and well-being programs.
QUOTES
“Thank you to Premier Ford, Deputy Premier Jones, Associate Minister Tibollo, and the entire provincial government for supporting the new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs across Ontario, including one for the CMHA Peel Dufferin in Brampton. This announcement reinforces our shared commitment to prioritizing addiction treatment, mental health services, and combating homelessness. The well-being of our residents is top of mind, and having the community resources in place supports those in need in Brampton and beyond.”
Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton
“People struggling with addiction and mental health need treatment and support, not access to drugs. Our government is ensuring those who need support receive it in a meaningful way, and children in Brampton are not forced to learn and play close to drug injection sites.”
The Honourable Graham McGregor, Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform; Member of Provincial Parliament for Brampton North
“It was such an honour today to have Minister Williams and her colleagues at the CMHA Peel Dufferin for the announcement of the HART Hubs. This is a phenomenal program that is going to make a huge impact on the lives of people in Brampton and across the Region of Peel.”
David Smith, CEO of CMHA Peel Dufferin










