Province expands integrated care network with $550M investment in 28 HART Hubs
New St. Catharines facility aims to improve access to treatment, housing and support services
ST. CATHARINES, Ont. — The Ontario government has opened a new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub in St. Catharines, marking a significant step in its broader plan to expand mental health and addictions services while enhancing community safety.
The new hub is part of a nearly $550 million provincial investment to establish 28 HART Hubs across Ontario. The initiative is designed to provide more coordinated, community-based care for individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges and substance use issues.
“We are building a stronger, more connected system of mental health and addictions care that better reflects the needs of communities and focuses on lasting recovery,” said Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “The opening of this new HART Hub will help to ensure that people struggling with mental health and addictions challenges in Niagara Region can access support services that prioritizes their path to recovery and strengthen community safety.”
Integrated, community-based care model
The HART Hub model is intended to streamline access to a wide range of services under one coordinated system. Individuals accessing the St. Catharines hub will be connected to primary care, mental health services, addictions treatment, social supports and employment assistance.
The hub will be led by Gateway Residential & Community Support Services, working in collaboration with several regional partners. These include Niagara Region Mental Health, Regional Essential Access to Connected Healthcare (REACH), Quest Community Health Centre, De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Services, Oak Centre and Community Addictions Services Ontario Niagara (CASON).
Together, these organizations will deliver a coordinated network of clinical and social services tailored to local community needs.
Services offered through the hub will include mental health and addiction care, case management, primary healthcare, peer support, and access to basic necessities such as food and clothing. The hub will also provide Indigenous-focused services, mobile outreach programs and supportive housing options.
Regional access with local delivery
While the hub is physically located on Queenston Street in St. Catharines, services will be available to individuals across the Niagara region. The model emphasizes flexibility, with providers travelling throughout the region to meet clients where they are.
Supportive housing units associated with the hub will also be distributed across Niagara, helping individuals transition to stable, long-term housing while remaining connected to care providers.
The facility is co-located with Quest Community Health Centre and De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Services, placing it within close proximity to existing community supports and improving accessibility for clients.
Shift toward recovery-focused care
The launch of HART Hubs reflects a broader shift in Ontario’s approach to mental health and addiction services, with an increased focus on recovery and long-term stability.
As part of this model, HART Hubs will not offer safer supply, supervised drug consumption or needle exchange programs. Instead, the province is prioritizing treatment-based interventions and integrated support systems.
The initiative builds on the government’s broader strategy outlined in Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care and the Roadmap to Wellness, which together aim to create a more accessible and coordinated mental health system.
Expansion of services and housing capacity
The province reports that, as of April 1, 2025, nine existing Consumption and Treatment Services sites have already transitioned into HART Hubs, expanding the scope of services available to vulnerable populations.
In addition to clinical and social supports, the HART Hub initiative includes a significant expansion of supportive housing. Nearly 900 units are being added across Ontario — more than 300 above the original target — to help address housing instability among individuals in recovery.
This housing component is seen as critical to improving long-term outcomes, providing individuals with a stable environment while they access treatment and support services.
Long-term investment in mental health system
The Niagara hub is part of a broader, multi-year investment strategy by the province to strengthen mental health and addictions care.
Through the Roadmap to Wellness, Ontario has committed $3.8 billion over 10 years to close service gaps and build a more comprehensive system. The plan includes expanding existing programs, introducing new services and improving coordination across care providers.
In addition, the province’s 2025 budget includes $303 million over three years to support community-led mental health initiatives, further reinforcing the role of local organizations in delivering care.
As the network of HART Hubs continues to expand, the government says the goal is to create a more responsive and accessible system that supports recovery, reduces homelessness and enhances safety in communities across Ontario.