MPP John Yakabuski (centre) was at the County of Renfrew Administration Building on Jan 28 to announce Renfrew County’s successful HART Hub application in partnership with the Pembroke Regional Hospital. Following the announcement he was joined by (from left) Councillor Michael Donohue, Chair of the County’s Health Committee; Paramedic Joe Hamilton; Sabine Mersmann, President and CEO of Pembroke Regional Hospital; Commander Steph Rose, County of Renfrew Paramedic Service; Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon; Paramedic Basil Gardiner and Councillor Anne Giardini, Chair of the County’s Community Services Committee.

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Pembroke – The County of Renfrew, in collaboration with Pembroke Regional Hospital (PRH) and Carefor, can begin to offer advanced medical, psychiatric and social assistance to residents suffering from substance abuse, mental health and homelessness after the province announced $6.3 million in annual funding towards a new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub.

The funding includes $1.3 million specifically allocated for mental health and addictions supportive housing from 2025-26 to 2027-28.

The announcement, made January 28 at the county administration building in Pembroke, identified the Carefor MacKay Centre in Pembroke as the location for the new Mesa HART hub. The hub will offer a range of services, including primary care, mental health services, addiction care and support, a concurrent disorder specialist, intensive stabilization and onsite care for clients with complex mental health and addictions needs.

It will also offer peer supports, Indigenous client care coordination, life skills training and vocational and employment counselling.

County Warden Peter Emon said the new hub will concentrate on providing services from the time an individual is identified in need of basic services until they are ready to lead a life of independence.

“We are honoured that the province has entrusted the collaborative network of partners in Renfrew County with establishing a HART Hub, complete with the all-important wrap-around services,” he said.  “This initiative will significantly bolster the efforts of all of the agencies engaged on the Mesa initiative to provide essential services to our most vulnerable populations, fostering a safer and more supportive community environment. The Mesa HART Hub is not a shiny toy adding to services in our community, it is a necessary driver of compassionate and planned care for our residents.”

Detox Centre To Be Established

Warden Emon said one of the first priorities is to get the hub up and running. That will require striking a steering committee to provide direction for the services.

“What I envision, and others may have their own concept, but I see the function of the committee is similar to how the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) developed the situational table that brings together all the partners and together we identify what is needed to get the program up and running,” he said. “I imagine the County of Renfrew, Carefor and the Pembroke Regional Hospital (PRH) taking the lead as PRH will be staffing the new hub and offering most of the clinical services.”

One major component of the program is to establish a county detox to allow local clients to remain close to home during their treatment. Currently there are no medically or non-medically supervised withdrawal beds available in the county. Residents requiring bed-based, supervised withdrawal are referred to facilities outside the county, which can be several hours away from their home, community, and essential supports such as childcare.

The Mesa Hub will have a combined bed count of 45 including withdrawal management, supportive/relapse prevention and supportive bridge housing beds. Additionally, it will have the opportunity to provide up to 15 Emergency/Overnight beds year-round. It will also provide access to integrated care services including basic needs, primary care, mental health and substance use treatments, case management, cultural support, and peer support, addressing clients’ immediate stabilization needs.

“Unfortunately, Renfrew County has the numbers in terms of people needing a detox centre as their first major step towards battling their substance abuse issues,” Warden Emon told the Leader. “PRH will be leading that process and that means the hiring of 36 staff.”

He said the introduction of the Mesa program has been a success and has made inroads with people who find themselves addicted, or suffering from mental illness, leaving many homeless.

In 2024 the drug poisoning death rate in Renfrew County was 28.7 deaths per 100,000, he said, significantly higher than the provincial average, and the number of deaths in 2023 was 41. He said 2024 final statistics are not in but one piece of good news he can announce is the number of deaths decreased last year. He attributes much of that success to the Mesa project and its personnel.

“Mesa has reached approximately 3,200 individuals in six months, demonstrating that the approach works, and is ready to be scaled,” he said. “The health unit will have a full report in the spring, but we do know that 19.1 per cent of county residents struggle with either substance abuse or mental health issues.

“That represents about 20,000 residents who may at one point reach out for help but often wait up to six weeks for out-of-county detox, stabilization, and residential care, further delaying access to critical supports.” 

Warden Emon added the community owes a great deal of gratitude to retired MPP John Yakabuski for his support for this application as he recognized the need and was relentless in his advocacy.

“I am pleased our government recognizes the need to establish HART Hubs in rural Ontario, especially in Renfrew County,” Mr. Yakabuski said at the announcement last week. “Having access to these services will have a positive impact on the lives of many in our community,”

Pembroke Mayor Welcomes News

Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais called the announcement great news.

“I am most pleased the application to the province has been successful to provide funding for the Hart Hub to build upon what has already been started with the Mesa program, he said. “This will be a hub and spoke model working with pre-existing community-based entities and programs so that there is no duplication.” Additionally, the province announced $215,000 in funding to assist with short- and long-term housing to address alternatives to encampments.

The new hub coming to Pembroke is one of 18 funded through the Ministry of Health by investing $529 million. There will now be 27 hubs in Ontario. 

Renfrew County’s successful proposal was a collaborative effort involving key partners such as the Pembroke Regional Hospital, Carefor, the City of Pembroke, Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, MacKay Manor, Addictions Treatment Service, Phoenix Centre for Children and Families, Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre (OATC) – Pembroke, Pathways Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services, Renfrew County Youth Wellness Hub, The Grind Pembroke, Renfrew County and District Health Unit, Upper Ottawa Valley detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police, local municipalities, first responders, and various community organizations.