Cathy Dobson/The Independent

The community will have ample opportunity for input on a 30-bed addiction recovery facility proposed for the former SCITS building on Wellington Street, says Bluewater Health CEO Paula Reaume-Zimmer.

But she hopes the public consultation and rezoning process will be expedited because the 30 recovery beds are key to the success of a new provincially-funded Housing and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub announced for Sarnia in January.

“We are very hopeful the community will get behind it… we really are hoping for support from the neighbourhood,” she said Thursday when the preferred location was announced.  “Everyone knows we needed this yesterday.”

The 30 transitional recovery beds are critical to fighting addictions in Sarnia-Lambton, Reaume-Zimmer said. Currently, detox is available at Bluewater Health, followed by a 30-day stay at a transitional facility called Ryan’s House.  After that, individuals trying to stay sober often don’t have stable housing and they frequently relapse.

The HART Hub’s recovery facility would allow for stays up to 18 months and provide supports and supervision to help people make meaningful life changes, said Reaume-Zimmer.

Several sites were considered for the 30-bed HART Hub facility before the former high school building was selected. It is regarded as the best option because of its recently-built dormitory, renovated classrooms on the second floor, green space, central location, gymnasium and auditorium. 

Toronto-based owner Mohit Gupta bought the building in 2021 and has made several proposals for it including a daycare centre, an international school, dorms for college students and, most recently, a private elementary school. But none have got off the ground.

Extensive renovations for earlier proposals mean the infrastructure is already there for a residential recovery facility, said Reaume-Zimmer.

It’s estimated $300,000 – $400,000 in capital will be required to accommodate the HART Hub, including construction of a new kitchen. 

The HART Hub model also incorporates a resource centre that will possibly be located on Lochiel Street, as well as funding to provide social services and other supports to maintain residents in affordable housing.  Together the three HART Hub components are expected to be a game-changer for Sarnia-Lambton’s addiction crisis, officials say.

The residential component will occupy about 22,000 square feet of leased space at the former SCITS site.  The historical building, which was built in 1922, is 200,000 square feet, leaving considerable space for other support services that could potentially locate there as well, said Reaume-Zimmer.

But first the property requires rezoning.  It’s currently zoned Urban Residential and will need a site-specific zoning by-law amendment to allow transitional treatment.  And that requires public meetings under the Planning Act. 

But aside from the mandatory meetings, Reaume-Zimmer said at least one non-mandatory open house is planned to allow for public engagement with the numerous HART Hub partners, which include the Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent, Bluewater Health, Lambton County, North Lambton Community Health Centre and the Sarnia –Lambton Ontario Health Team.

That group intends to submit a rezoning application to city hall next week.

Timing depends on how quickly rezoning is possible but Reaume-Zimmer said the intention is to open the 30-bed facility within months.

Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey said he strongly supports the HART Hub model and intends to “move heaven and earth to get it across (the finish line.)”

The people being treated at the facility proposed at SCITS are on their way to recovery and need longer term support, he said. “These people will already have been treated for addictions…they’ll have supervision all the time in there with nursing and medical staff.

“No drugs at all,” said Bailey.  “There won’t be safe consumption, none of that, because when they go there, they’re going to be off drugs and they’ve got to stay off them, or they won’t be there.”

The Ontario government announced funding for 27 HART Hubs across the province in January and said they’d be open by April.  However, only 10 that have replaced safe consumption sites are operational at this point. 

Sarnia is still waiting on the province to send official funding letters to confirm that the government will provide $6.3 million annually for three years to operate all three components of the HART Hub here.  The residential beds will require $2.5 million of that to operate, said Reaume-Zimmer.

In a press release, building owner Mohit Gupta said he’s excited that the building may be repurposed to help people in need.

“It’s a meaningful new purpose for the SCITS building that brings great value back to the local community,” he said.

with files from Heather Wright