While many involved in getting the Sault's HART Hub up and running have been tight-lipped on its expected opening date, the city's mayor says he's hoping it will be operational by the end of the year.
In a video interview last week with Village Media editor-in-chief Michael Friscolanti, Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said his campaign promise to advocate for a supervised consumption site became unfeasible once the Doug Ford government closed applications in favour of offering HART Hub sites.
"We undertook a massive effort to get [a HART Hub], to make sure that the Sault was on the list of places that needed one. Helping us — if you can use that word — is the fact that we had the worst overdose death rate and hospitalization rate in the province," Shoemaker said.
He added: "Fortunately, we were successful. Not only were we successful, but there will also be one in Blind River. So, it will really be a district-wide effort to serve and treat the people that need the treatment most, and we hope that it'll be up and running by the end of the year."
Over the last few weeks, SooToday has reached out to the Ministry of Health, the local MPP, Social Services and the local chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association with questions about an estimated opening date for the Sault Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub.
A second local hub was also awarded to Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services.
The ministry and MPP Chris Scott said only that the hubs will be operational 'as soon as possible.'
In an email, Scott said the provincial government's partners are taking the necessary steps to apply funding to get supports active in the community.
"I have faith in their ability to work as quickly as possible, these people are absolute champions, I am fully behind them, ready to provide assistance where needed to move things forward," said Scott in the email.
Although the community has secured up to $22.4 million to operate the HART Hubs, the responsibility to build or renovate a space for it in the Sault will fall to the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board.
DSSAB CEO Mike Nadeau said his organization is responsible for any capital planning and support, while CMHA will operate the eventual hub.
"The proposal identified adding new housing solutions. This may include adding new supportive housing units, relocating the shelter, etc; however we have not made any determination if or when this would occur or where," Nadeau said by email.
The current men's shelter and Community Resource Centre were opened in the fall of 2023 at an estimated cost of $11.5 million.
Lisa Case, CEO of CMHA — Algoma, said her organization submitted its completed budget on April 25 and is awaiting Ontario Health and Ministry of Health review.
"While we await feedback and approval, we continue to engage key stakeholders to map the details of infrastructure development, service delivery, service agreements, and defining and measuring success," Case said.