Ontario Opens New HART Hub in Niagara Region to Expand Addiction Recovery and Housing Support
Niagara HART Hub Expands Addiction Recovery and Mental Health Services in St. Catharines
The new hub is part of the province’s nearly $550 million investment to establish 28 HART Hubs across Ontario, aimed at improving recovery-focused care while enhancing community safety for residents facing homelessness, mental health challenges and substance use issues.
Integrated Care Model Expands in Niagara Region
Provincial officials say the Niagara HART Hub will provide a coordinated, wraparound system of care, connecting individuals to a wide range of services including primary care, mental health supports, addiction treatment, social services and employment assistance.
“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 Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Vijay Thanigasalam.
“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.”
Local Partnerships Drive Service Delivery
The Niagara HART Hub will be led by Gateway Residential & Community Support Services, working in partnership with several regional organizations, including:
- 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
- Community Addictions Services Ontario Niagara (CASON)
The hub will be located on Queenston Street in St. Catharines, co-located with Quest Community Health Centre and Indigenous health services, and positioned near additional community supports.
Every family has been impacted by mental health or addiction at some point.
Today, with @TheThanigasalam, we opened the new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery and Treatment Hub in Niagara.
This new hub will provide wraparound support services to ensure hope and recovery are… pic.twitter.com/Q7fp6KkpfY
— Sam Oosterhoff (@samoosterhoff) March 27, 2026
Broad Range of Services Available
The HART Hub will offer a comprehensive suite of services tailored to local needs, including:
- Mental health and addiction treatment
- Case management and system navigation
- Primary health care
- Peer support services
- Basic needs support such as food and clothing
- Indigenous-focused services
- Mobile clinic outreach
- Supportive housing
While based in St. Catharines, services will be available across Niagara Region, with providers travelling to meet clients where they are.
Focus on Recovery and Long-Term Stability
The province says HART Hubs are designed with a treatment-first approach, focusing on recovery and long-term stability. Officials note that these hubs will not offer safer supply, supervised consumption or needle exchange programs, instead emphasizing integrated care and housing support.
The initiative builds on Ontario’s broader Roadmap to Wellness, a 10-year, $3.8 billion strategy to expand mental health and addictions services across the province. Additional funding of $303 million over three years has also been allocated through Budget 2025 for community-based mental health programs.
Community Leaders Highlight Impact
Local leaders say the new hub will strengthen support systems for residents facing complex challenges.
“Addiction has impacted every family. We are connecting more people to the addiction treatment and recovery help they need… while continuing to build safer communities,” said Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff.
St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe noted the importance of coordinated action across all levels of government and community partners.
“The opening of this HART Hub is a meaningful step forward, bringing together treatment, housing and wraparound supports with a clear focus on recovery and community safety,” Siscoe said.
Expanding Network of Care Across Ontario
The Niagara HART Hub is part of a growing provincial network that will include 28 treatment hubs and nearly 900 supportive housing units, helping individuals transition to stable, long-term housing.
Officials say the expansion reflects Ontario’s ongoing efforts to build a more accessible, integrated and responsive system of care for those most in need.
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