Construction continues on permanent HART Hub in downtown Woodstock

Construction at the physical HART Hub in downtown Woodstock has been ramping up recently as a potential opening date of late 2027 has been released. (Lee Griffi Photo)

Lee Griffi, Editor

As work on the permanent HART Hub site at the former Woodstock PUC building continues, treatment for those facing addiction continues at the temporary Wellness Centre at 369 Huron Street.

The site has four withdrawal management beds and six bedded supportive treatment (BST) beds. Clients may stay in the withdrawal management beds for up to 14 days, while the BST beds accommodate longer-term recovery programming of up to approximately three months. Currently, all 10 beds at the Wellness Centre are occupied.

Funding for the temporary Wellness Centre location on Huron Street is provided through the Ministry of Health as part of the Oxford County HART Hub operating budget.

One of the questions most often asked by the community is what happens after someone leaves treatment. Do they remain in recovery, or do they return to substance use?

At this time, those overseeing the program do not have a firm grasp on how successful the programming is in terms of long-term recovery.

“While aftercare programs are offered to everyone, participation is voluntary, and individuals may return to independent living following treatment,” said Jilliane Blair, Manager of Outpatient Mental Health and Addictions at Woodstock General Hospital. “As a result, we are unable to reliably track whether an individual who has completed treatment returns to substance use, and where it has occurred, conclude it was because of a lack of housing.”

Blair said she can confirm that no individual completing the Oxford Wellness Centre’s 90-day Bedded Supportive Treatment (BST) Program has been discharged into homelessness. She also noted that not all clients were homeless when they entered the program.

“Clients who didn’t have stable housing are either enrolled in the HART Hub’s Transitional Housing and Supportive Recovery Programs, have been invited to return to live with their families, have accessed private housing options, or have accessed other housing partner units.”

To date, 235 people have contacted the Oxford Wellness Centre’s centralized intake phone number seeking information and connection to HART Hub services. At the temporary Wellness Centre, 98 people have been enrolled in Withdrawal Management Services and 37 in the 90-day Bedded Supportive Treatment program.

“Of the 31 people discharged from Bedded Supportive Treatment, 16 achieved their recovery goals and left with a detailed discharge plan. This represents a 52 per cent completion rate, consistent with residential addictions treatment programs,” Blair explained.

The figures provide a measure of program completion, but they do not provide a measure of whether people remain in recovery after leaving the program.

Blair said the HART Hub was intentionally designed to connect treatment with ongoing supports, recognizing that recovery doesn’t end when treatment does.

“The HART Hub’s Supportive Recovery Program will include 10 abstinence-based housing units, two of which are currently occupied by people who completed the 90-day BST program, with additional units available in the coming months. The Hub also provides transitional housing support in Tillsonburg and Ingersoll, creating pathways between treatment, transitional supports, and longer-term housing.”

Treatment is an important part of recovery, but completing treatment doesn’t necessarily mean a person will never experience a return to substance use. Blair explained that recovery is an ongoing process, and people may require different forms of support at different points in that journey.

“Sustaining recovery often requires significant changes in many areas of a person’s life and access to conditions that support wellness, including stable housing, primary and mental health care, supportive relationships, meaningful community connection, education and employment opportunities, income stability, and ongoing substance use health supports.”

She added that recovery is complex, and health care cannot address all of these factors alone.

“Sustaining recovery requires collaboration across health care, housing, social services, municipalities, employers, educational institutions, community organizations, families, and the broader community.”

The goal is to open the doors to the permanent Oxford Wellness Centre at 16 Graham Street in the winter of 2027.

“The permanent site will substantially expand our capacity to provide integrated mental health and substance use health services and represents another important investment in Oxford County's continuum of care,” said Blair.

The facility will have 10 withdrawal management beds and 40 supportive treatment beds. There will also be 10 additional transitional housing units located in Woodstock for clients who have completed treatment at the Wellness Centre.

“These are abstinence-based units. Clients may stay in the units for up to 12 months,” she added.

The new facility will also have shared office and treatment spaces where community partners can offer programs and services directly to clients.

“For example, Oxford County Community Health Centre and CMHA Thames Valley will be able to use dedicated group therapy and counselling spaces at the Wellness Centre, making these supports more accessible to people receiving treatment,” explained Blair.

This approach is designed to make it easier for clients to connect with a range of supports in one place and build a strong foundation for long-term recovery and stability. This will also include connections to housing, primary care, employment and education opportunities, and other community services.

The larger facility will also have more dedicated spaces for activities that support clients’ overall health, wellness and life skills.

“An on-site fitness and wellness space will provide greater access to physical activity and wellness programming. Another example is that clients currently participate in activities that involve planning and preparing snacks using a set budget and available ingredients. A dedicated dining hall and teaching kitchen will provide additional opportunities for hands-on learning and skill development.”

More information is available on the Woodstock General Hospital website at www.woodstockhospital.ca/oxford-hart-hub-initiative, or members of the public can email questions to info@woodstockhospital.ca.