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Ontario Opens Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub in Renfrew County

Press Release

February 05, 2026

Province supporting community safety and addiction recovery with 28 HART Hubs delivering care across Ontario

PEMBROKE — The Ontario government is expanding access to high-quality mental health and addictions care with the launch of a new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub in Renfrew County. This is part of the province’s almost $550 million investment to open 28 HART Hubs across Ontario to protect the safety of children and families, while improving access to recovery and treatment services for people facing housing instability, mental health and substance use challenges.

“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 ensure that people struggling with mental health and addictions challenges in Renfrew County can get the care they need on their path to recovery.”

HART Hubs connect people to a range of comprehensive treatment and recovery services, including primary care, mental health services, addictions care, social services and employment supports. The County of Renfrew MESA HART Hub is now operational and delivering services in collaboration with partners including the Renfrew Pembroke Regional Hospital and the Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre, working together to connect people with the supports they need, when they need them.

The Hub brings together a collaborative network of clinical, social service and care providers working to deliver services tailored to local needs, including:

  • Primary care
  • Mental health services
  • Addictions services
  • Case management for mental health and addictions
  • Supportive housing
  • Indigenous services
  • Basic Needs (food, showers, and clothing.)
  • Life skills and employment counselling

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care and building on the Roadmap to Wellness, the province is connecting individuals to integrated mental health and addictions services, where and when they need it.

Quick Facts

  • The Renfrew County MESA HART Hub is located in Pembroke at the Carefor Mackay Centre (700 Mackay St).
  • The HART Hub delivers services in partnership with the Pembroke Regional Hospital, the County of Renfrew, Carefor, the City of Pembroke, the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, MacKay Manor, Addictions Treatment Service, the Phoenix Centre for Children and Families, Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre (OATC) – Pembroke, Pathways Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services, the Renfrew County Youth Wellness Hub, The Grind Pembroke, Renfrew County and District Health Unit, local municipalities, the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP detachment, first responders and other community organizations.
  • The Hub offers a unique network‑based model of support, connecting a 24/7 intake centre with existing community access points so people can move easily between services based on their needs.
  • As of April 1, 2025, nine Consumption and Treatment Services sites successfully transitioned to HART Hubs, delivering expanded recovery and treatment services to ensure timely, high-quality care for vulnerable individuals while keeping communities safe. More HART Hubs are now opening across Ontario.
  • HART Hubs will also add close to 900 supportive housing units across the province. This is over 300 more than originally planned, helping people transition to stable, long-term housing.
  • In March 2025, the government announced an investment of almost $550 million to open a total of 28 HART Hubs across the province, nine more HART Hubs than initially planned.
  • This includes two Indigenous-led Hubs in Kenora and Sault Ste. Marie/Blind River/Sagamok Anishnawbek, delivering culturally relevant care in partnership with Indigenous service organizations.
  • With a focus on treatment and recovery, HART Hubs will not offer safer supply, supervised drug consumption or needle exchange programs.
  • Through the Roadmap to Wellness, Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to close gaps in mental health and addictions care and build a world-class system. This investment is helping create new services and expand programs across the province.
  • As part of Budget 2025, Ontario is investing $303 million over the next three years to support community-led and delivered mental health programs.

Quotes

“The MESA HART Hub is a welcome addition to health services in the County of Renfrew. The HART Hub will bring together mental and primary health services, transitional housing, social supports and employment counselling, all under one roof. It will provide a safe and welcoming space for those who need immediate support, so they can have positive long-term results.”
– John Jordan
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and MPP for Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston

“The opening of the HART Hub reflects the province’s commitment to expanding integrated, community-based supports that connect people to care, reduce pressure on emergency services and improve safety and well-being across Ontario. This is about coordinated, accountable solutions that deliver better outcomes for communities. We thank the province for its annual investment in delivering these essential services closer to home.”
– Billy Denault
MPP for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke

“The opening of this HART Hub represents a shift in how we respond to complex needs in our community: from fragmented supports to a coordinated system of care. Through strong partnerships across health, social services and community agencies, Renfrew County is building a model rooted in compassion, accountability, and results. The HART Hub brings together the right partners, in the right place, to connect people with support when it matters most. This is a community led solution, made possible through the Mesa initiative, collaboration and an unwavering belief that everyone deserves the chance to be well.”
– Jennifer Murphy
Warden, County of Renfrew

“As a county-wide provider of mental health services and a leading partner in this initiative, we couldn’t be more proud of the work that has already been done to address the needs of those in the vulnerable sectors of our communities. Now, more than ever, there is great value in being able to draw on collective expertise by working closely with others. Ontario’s investment in this work is reflective of that and we are very pleased to be part of this and the outcomes that will be achieved.”
– Sabine Mersman
President and CEO, Pembroke Regional Hospital and Co-lead, Renfrew County HART Hub

Additional Resources

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Media Contacts

Anetes Anton
Associate Minister Thanigasalam’s Office
Anetes.anton@ontario.ca

Ema Popovic
Minister Jones’ Office
ema.popovic@ontario.ca

Media Relations
Communications Branch
media.moh@ontario.ca

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