TIMMINS – Uncertainties about funding make it difficult to plan a proposed mental health and addiction treatment center, project manager says.

At Thursday’s Cochrane District Services Board (CDSB) meeting, Director of Health Jean Carriere provided an update on the progress of the Homelessness and Addictions Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub application in Timmins.

There was little discussion among the board members about the matter. Earl of Timmins. Lorne Feldman asked if the facility will be low or high barrier and for an update on the partners and council. John Curley questioned what the referral and treatment processes would look like.

The proposed HART Hub, which is part of the broader Wellness Center of Excellence (WCE) initiative, is intended to be a centralized service facility for mental health and substance abuse treatment, as well as transitional housing support for individuals facing homelessness. It will not allow supervised on-site consumption or distribution of harm reduction supplies.

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Carriere said the application group meets weekly and noted that planning is difficult because of the funding uncertainty.

“We don’t know when or how much funding we’re going to get,” he said.

The original partners are still at the table and the partnerships continue to grow, he said.

When the first application for the HART Hub was submitted, there were over 30 letters of support from various community organizations, but that number has grown to nearly 40. Carriere pointed to ongoing discussions with addiction centers, women’s shelters and treatment facilities as a sign of the growing interest and collaboration around the project.

He said the HART Hub is meant to be a service hub where different partners can collaborate, coordinate care and share resources. According to Carriere, the goal is to ensure that people connect with the right care providers based on their needs, which can vary depending on their background and specific challenges.

For the proposed facility, CDSB is purchasing the Ramada Inn in the western part of Timmins. The agency is applying to become one of the new provincial HART hubs. The last day for applications was 18 October. The CDSB has said the funding announcement is expected in November.

It has not been confirmed by the Ontario Ministry of Health.

“As the minister said at AMO, the goal is to have HART Hubs up and running as CTS (consumer treatment services) sites within the buffer zone near the end of March 2025,” said Hannah Jensen, Health Minister Sylvia Jones’ director of communications, in an email to Timmins Today.

Because the review is ongoing, Jensen did not comment on the total number of HART hub applications the province has received.

CDSB is asking for up to $6.3 million per year for three years and up to $1.8 million in one-time funding. Under the HART Hub model, $1.3 million of the $6.3 million annually would be specifically for assisted living. Major capital costs for new or complete renovations of buildings are not eligible for funding.

Carriere reiterated this week that the facility is intended to be a sober treatment and recovery center.

“This is not a shelter,” Carriere said. “The facility will provide treatment and transitional housing, but it will be a sober environment. People come to the facility to treat addictions, not to use drugs or alcohol.”

The public rollout of the project has been controversial.

Since the announcement in September, there has been a very loud call from residents and some city councilors for communication and transparency around the project.

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A public information session in September left many people with more questions than answers and led Timmins Coun. Rock Whissell resigns from CDSB’s board. At that meeting, dates were set for future public sessions, but the events were not held.

In September, Timmins council called on the community partners involved in the hub application to present at a council meeting and clearly explain the model, what services would be delivered and the potential impacts on the neighbourhood. That hasn’t happened yet either.

This week’s report to the board said it was still working on a “robust communications strategy”. It says there are also plans for a public information session.

Carriere acknowledged the need for community engagement and clear communication as the project moves forward.

He said they have worked to partner with local businesses, schools and organizations.

A project website, wceproject.cahas been quietly launched, but offers some new details about the project.

Whissell took to Facebook this week to express his ongoing concerns about the project.

“Two months have passed since my resignation, during which I was assured that the citizens of my ward would receive extensive communication regarding the hub application,” he wrote.

“Unfortunately, the promised updates and transparency remain absent, leaving over 10,000 residents without clarity or answers.”

For referrals to the hub, Carriere said it would be through a formal process. He said the intent is not for individuals to walk into the facility and request treatment directly.

He said it’s similar to how community paramedic programs work, where people are referred by family doctors, nurses, hospitals or family members.

“Someone just couldn’t walk through the doors and ask for treatment. That’s not the point,” he says.

“That being said, if someone walks through the doors and requests treatment, we will make sure they are transported to a facility that can begin treatment immediately and then they have an opportunity to be referred directly to our facility.”

Carriere also made it clear that the HART Hub is not an emergency room and that the treatment provided will be voluntary.

As the HART Hub continues to take shape, Carriere said the CDSB’s role is to act as a convener for the various partners.

“One vision that everyone has in common across all of these agencies is to improve the quality of life and care of people in our areas,” he said.