A New Location for the Integrated Care Hub

Earlier this week the integrated care hub moved from Artillery Park to here on Montreal St. Since it first opened several months ago, the integrated care hub has proved to be a much better way to provide services and care to our community’s most vulnerable residents. The hub is a low barrier, 24/7 space that provides a meal program, crisis and counselling harm reduction services, emergency and supportive housing placements, and much more. It’s also a great example of community partnerships, in this case between the City, HIV/Aids Regional Services and Kingston Community Health Centres, which in turn connect with other community partners to provide an array of resources.

While there’s still some exterior work to be completed, this location offers a more purpose-built space to provide these services, and now the city can begin the process of reopening recreational programs for residents at Artillery Park later this month. The City has earmarked emergency funding for the integrated care hub until next July, but based on the success we’ve seen to date, I’m asking the provincial government to consider funding the hub on a permanent basis. The hub is an incredible example of providing care by meeting people where they’re at. Not only does the hub make it easier for our most vulnerable residents to access the services they need, it doesn’t expect the people who are struggling most to fit into a one-size-fits-all model. Every detail has been thought through by the incredible staff in order to provide dignified care, and resulting in a big uptake in accessing resources, support and a reduction in harm for our most vulnerable.