New HART Hub residential facility opens at former high school

Cathy Dobson/The Independent

Where classrooms once lined the halls at the former SCITS high school, 30 private bedrooms, lounges, education rooms and offices are now helping people recover from their addictions.

The second floor of the school attended by generations of Sarnians, is now retrofitted for use as one of Ontario’s 28 Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs.  Services began Dec. 23.

Eight people in recovery from addictions are already living and getting professional support at Sarnia-Lambton’s new Hub where they can stay up to 18 months.

The HART Hub’s official opening Monday was a transformative moment for Sarnia-Lambton, said Rhonny Doxtator, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton Kent. 

Speaking to about 60 health care professionals and politicians gathered in the former school’s cafeteria, Doxtator said the province’s investment in HART Hubs is a critical step to solving Ontario’s homelessness and addiction problems.

“Here’s what we know: Homelessness is becoming more complex,” she said. “It’s no longer simply a housing issue. It’s deeply intertwined with mental health, substance abuse disorder, trauma and poverty.”

Communities of all sizes including Sarnia-Lambton are seeing people with higher needs and few places to turn.

Doxtator talked about the relationship of addiction with mental health and chronic illness, combined with the physical strain of homelessness and precarious housing.

“It’s an incredibly difficult cycle to break free from,” she said. “The impact is significant to our hospitals, our police services, our shelters, our businesses, our neighbourhoods and, most importantly, those individuals and our loved ones who are struggling.”

The HART Hub brings a new optimism that individuals can successfully recover – even from the most serious addictions because it offers long term support for residents who first finish the week-long detox at Bluewater Health, followed by a month in transitional beds at Sarnia’s Ryan’s House.

It also represents collaboration among numerous local agencies that provide primary care, mental health and addiction treatment, housing supports and employment assistance.

Apart from the 30-bed residential facility on Wellington Street, the HART Hub includes a new drop-in centre on Lochiel Street.

Since opening Nov. 3, the drop-in centre has found housing for 15 individuals and families who were homeless.

“Several individuals who once felt completely stuck, are now housed, engaging in addiction recovery, connecting or reconnecting with mental health supports and taking meaningful steps,” said Doxtator.

Sarnia-Lambton’s HART Hub is a pilot project being funded with $6.3 million per year for three years.

“Ontario is not just funding a building,” Doxtator remarked. “It’s funding new pathways and models that lead to stability and recovery.”

Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey said he “feels blessed” that Sarnia-Lambton was chosen for one of Ontario’s 28 HART Hubs, which are costing the government a total of $550 million.

“I am really grateful for all the hard work from everyone in this room,” he said. “We are ensuring that those struggling with mental health and addiction challenges in Sarnia and across Lambton County can access compassionate care and support services.”

Bailey believes community safety will also improve with the 30-bed facility.

Funding for Bluewater Health to co-ordinate the hub was announced a year ago followed by a rush to find a location for the residential component, hire 15 new staff for 24/7 coverage and open the doors.     

The former high school property required rezoning but was a good fit because it had already been renovated with dorms and washrooms by a group that attempted earlier to open an international school there.  

The location works well for HART Hub residents who have use of the former school’s gymnasium, close proximity to the downtown library and waterfront parks in the summer, said Donna Morreau, Bluewater Health’s director of mental health, addiction services and social work.

There’s also space in the building for online programming from Westover treatment centre in Chatham.

The HART Hub occupies about 22,000 square feet of leased space. Since the massive building built in 1922 is 200,000 square feet, considerable space is left for other tenants, said co-owner Jamie Gallacher.

The Ontario Health Team, Hughes security and a reiki centre already have offices in the building and Gallacher said he is hopeful other health and wellness groups will also want to lease space.

The former administration and principal’s office is slated for a $400,000 renovation to be converted into a large industrial kitchen for the HART Hub. But that work isn’t likely until spring, said Bluewater Health CEO Paula Reaume-Zimmer.  Until then, the residents get take-out every night.

“I’m happy we came up with an alternative Plan B while waiting for the kitchen,” she said.  “We really didn’t want to discharge people leaving Ryan’s House without anywhere to go while we’re waiting for a kitchen.”

Prior to the HART Hub opening, numerous Ryan’s House residents had to leave after the 30-day program without a firm housing plan, which frequently lead to relapse. 

“They didn’t always know where they are going on day 31,” said Reaume-Zimmer.  “This is a critical piece for us to have these beds here where they can opt for up to 18 months to change their lifestyle.

“The grip of addiction is so challenging that they need a longer span of time to really make that change.

“It’s going to touch many lives.”

Bluewater Health has also been given ministry approval to finish renovating two floors of its Russell Street building for a detox and transitional community addiction unit.  That approval came earlier this month and construction is expected to be complete in 2027 or 2028.