A recommendation to continue funding an addiction recovery program facility is on the table now for Hastings County Council.
At a joint emergency services committee meeting on Wednesday, members approved the recommendation to renew the just over $800,000 contract with the Canadian Mental Health Association Hastings-Prince Edward for a two-year term to operate the Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub
A report from paramedic chief Carl Bowker stated Hastings Quinte Paramedic Services is an integral part of the HART Hub providing outreach services in partnership with CMHA-HPE and the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.
This initiative helps reduce pressures on frontline ambulance services and emergency departments while providing supportive and culturally appropriate care within the community for individuals experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness, as well as those with complex mental health and addictions needs.
The current agreement with the CMHA expires March 31, 2026 and requires renewal to keep these services in place.
The two-year term of the agreement aligns with CMHA’s agreement with Ontario Health with respect to the HART Hub initiative.
The renewal includes a budget that recognizes the increased costs of delivering these services in 2026/27 and refined statistical and financial reporting obligations.
