Homelessness and addictions hub to open in Pembroke, Ont.

The Carefor building on Mackay Street in Pembroke, Ont. will be the location of a new HART Hub. Jan. 29, 2025. (Dylan Dyson/CTV News Ottawa)

A new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub is set to open in Pembroke this spring.

The HART Hub is one of four new hubs recently announced in eastern Ontario by the provincial government. The other will be located in Ottawa, Brockville, and Belleville.

The County of Renfrew says HART Hubs are designed to offer services for individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use, and mental health challenges.

“The HART Hub unto itself represents a new opportunity to provide additional, residential treatment for people with mental health and addictions related issues,” says Renfrew County Chief Paramedic Mike Nolan.

The new HART Hub will be located at the Carefor building on McKay Street, across from the Pembroke Hospital, and is expected to open sometime in April.

The site will offer services such as primary care, mental health services, addictions care and support, social services, employment support, and bridge housing services.

Currently, the City of Pembroke is home to two similar services in The Grind community kitchen and a 24-7 winter warming centre, located in the rear of the Ontario Addictions Treatment Centre.

These services are viewed as short-term solutions for those in need in the Pembroke region, but Nolan says the incoming HART Hub can provide long-term prosperity for the homeless population, helping them find more permanent housing.

“It allows people to get timely access to care and do it in a way that then also rehabilitates them to be able to come back into the community, in a much more stable condition. This is going to be an opportunity to provide continuous care, perhaps for the rest of their lives, to whatever degree they need support.”

The county estimates there are approximately 50 people who are homeless in the Pembroke area.

A woman named Andrea, who was at the local warming centre Wednesday afternoon, says she has been homeless since the summer.

“I’m just kind of doing my thing, doing the hotel thing, and they help me out there, and then I found this place,” she tells CTV News, referencing the warming centre.

“It’s challenging (being homeless), but there’s a lot of resources here to help you, and a lot of the people that come here are pretty awesome people,” Andrea says.

For a third service such as the HART Hub set to open in her community, it offers a sense of support that brings optimism.

“I’m not alone I guess, but you kind of feel alone doing the homeless thing, and we’re all just going through the same thing.”

(Photo by me, taken Jan 29 2025, of the Carefor building on Mackay St in Pembroke)