🩺 Public Health Watch: Ontario Expands Public Health Care with New Kingston HART Hub

Province transitions injection site to recovery-focused model while expanding addiction and mental health services

Support worker assisting individual at Kingston HART Hub as part of Ontario’s public health care expansion for mental health and addiction recovery.
Ontario announces the opening of a new HART Hub in Kingston, expanding access to recovery-focused services and strengthening public health care across the community. (image source: X / @SylviaJonesMPP)

Kingston HART Hub Strengthens Public Health Care Access

KINGSTON — Ontario is expanding its network of Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs with a new site in Kingston, marking a significant shift in how public health care services are delivered for individuals facing addiction and mental health challenges.

The new HART Hub will replace the existing provincially funded drug injection site, which is set to close on September 30, 2026, with the new hub opening the following day to ensure no disruption in care for patients.

The move is part of the province’s broader strategy to expand access to treatment and recovery services, with funding for the HART Hub network increasing to more than $560 million and the total number of hubs growing from 28 to 29 locations across Ontario.


Kingston Hub Expands Access to Public Health Care Services

The new Kingston HART Hub will provide a range of integrated services, including:

  • Mental health and addictions treatment
  • Primary care services
  • Supportive housing
  • Social and employment supports

Designed in collaboration with the local community, the hub will focus on delivering recovery-based care tailored to the needs of Kingston residents.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones said the expansion reflects the province’s commitment to long-term recovery solutions.

“The new HART Hub in Kingston will connect vulnerable residents with the resources they need to rebuild their lives while protecting Ontario communities,” said Jones.



Transition Ensures Continuity of Care

A key component of the plan is maintaining uninterrupted access to services during the transition. The existing site will close at the end of September, with the HART Hub opening immediately on October 1, 2026.

This approach ensures patients currently relying on services will continue to receive care without gaps — a critical priority in public health system planning.

Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Vijay Thanigasalam emphasized the importance of continuity and access.

“By providing recovery-focused treatment, we are making it easier for individuals to access life-changing support while keeping our communities safe,” he said.


Growing Network Delivering Measurable Impact

Since their rollout, HART Hubs have already delivered more than 100,000 client interactions, connecting individuals to treatment, housing, and social supports.

More than 250 people have accessed supportive housing and recovery services, helping stabilize their lives and begin long-term recovery.

The Kingston hub will build on this model, expanding access to coordinated care while supporting the province’s long-term mental health and addictions strategy under the Roadmap to Wellness.


Part of a Broader Public Health Care Strategy

The expansion of HART Hubs is one component of Ontario’s broader plan to modernize public health care, focusing on:

  • Integrated service delivery
  • Community-based care
  • Long-term recovery outcomes

The province continues to invest $3.8 billion over 10 years to strengthen mental health and addictions services, ensuring more people can access care when and where they need it.


🩺 Public Health Watch is GTA Weekly’s ongoing series tracking health-care developments across Ontario—from hospital expansions to mental health initiatives and system-wide reforms.

Follow us @GTAWeeklyNews for more stories that shape Ontario’s public health care system.

About Alwin Marshall-Squire 15768 Articles
Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora. Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.

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