The Ontario government is making a record $1.1 billion investment to expand home care services and the Hospital to Home (H2H) program over the next three years, a move aimed at easing pressures on hospitals and helping more Ontarians recover safely at home. The funding, part of the province’s upcoming Fall Economic Statement, marks one of the largest targeted investments in home and community care in Ontario’s history.
Strengthening Care at Home
The new funding includes $982 million over three years to enhance core home care services such as nursing, physiotherapy and social work. Another $170 million will go toward expanding the Hospital to Home program, which supports patients transitioning from hospitals back into their communities.
“As part of our plan to protect Ontario, our government is making responsible, forward-looking investments that strengthen Ontario’s health-care system and our economy,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “By funding critical home care services and Hospital to Home programs, we are building a more self-reliant and resilient province and ensuring patients and families get the right care in the right place, at home.”
The government says the initiative is designed to respond to the province’s aging population and growing demand for more flexible health care options. With Ontario’s population of seniors projected to increase significantly over the next decade, the investment aims to help people remain independent and reduce reliance on hospitals and long-term care facilities.
“Our government has heard loud and clear that families across Ontario want faster and more flexible access to care that supports their recovery and independence,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Through our investment to strengthen and expand home care services, we are enabling more people to live, heal and thrive in their own homes, surrounded by the people that matter most.”
Expanding the Hospital to Home Program
The Hospital to Home program, currently active at 47 sites, supported approximately 8,100 patients in 2024–25. The new funding will allow Ontario to create 18 new sites and expand 23 existing ones, enabling thousands more patients to return home sooner following hospital stays.
“As Ontario’s population ages, seniors are increasingly relying on programs and services to keep them healthy and independent,” said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. “Today’s historic investment will help seniors across our province access the services they need to stay connected to their family, friends and communities.”
Government data shows previous investments have already had a measurable impact. Since 2023, the number of patients accessing home care has risen by 18 per cent, now serving over 650,000 Ontarians. Waitlists for personal support services have fallen sharply — from 7,371 down to 426 — a 94 per cent reduction. Hospital readmissions among H2H patients have dropped by nearly a quarter, while long-term care admissions have declined to just one per cent.
Sector Leaders Welcome Investment
Health sector leaders and home care organizations across Ontario applauded the announcement, describing it as a crucial step toward building a more efficient and sustainable health-care system.
“Ontario’s home care system delivers vital health services that help people stay healthy and independent in their own homes,” said Cameron MacKay, CEO, Home Care Ontario. “By delivering care in the home, the sector provides the fastest, most cost-effective relief for the broader health system — easing pressure on hospitals, shortening wait times for long-term care, and improving outcomes across the board. Today’s investment will allow more Ontarians to receive more care at home.”
Lori Holloway, CEO of the Ontario Community Support Association, said the funding will help stabilize the workforce and ensure greater continuity of care. “Previous funding commitments have helped stabilize the sector, supporting a measurable reduction in staff turnover and fewer missed care visits,” she said. “These improvements mean more Ontarians are receiving the care they need, when and where they need it.”
Hospital networks also welcomed the funding. “Investing in timely home care helps ensure patients leave hospital safely and with confidence,” said Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO, Unity Health Toronto. “This significant investment in home care will mean more patients in hospitals like those within Unity Health Toronto have seamless transitions from hospital to home and better connected care experiences throughout their healthcare journey.”
Other sector leaders echoed similar sentiments. Dr. Kathryn Nichol, CEO of VHA Home HealthCare, said the initiative will ensure “people receive the right care in the right place at the right time.” Jo-Anne Poirier, President and CEO of VON Canada, called the plan a “strategic investment” that strengthens services for clients with complex needs, while John Yip, CEO of SE Health, noted that “every dollar invested in home care multiplies its impact.”
Building Toward a Sustainable Future
The investment builds on the government’s 2024 commitment of $2 billion over three years to improve home and community care access. Officials say further details about Ontario’s broader fiscal and economic priorities will be released in the 2025 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review on November 6.
As the province continues to balance health system pressures and fiscal responsibility, the Ford government is positioning home care as a central pillar of its long-term strategy to modernize public health services — delivering care that is not only more efficient, but closer to where Ontarians live.
