CDSB buys Timmins hotel for proposed health center (updated)

TIMMINS – Plans for a full-service health center in Timmins are moving forward.

Today, the Cochrane County Service Board (CDSB) announced that it is acquiring the Ramada Inn located at 1800 Riverside Dr. in the western part of Timmins to create the Timmins and Area Wellness Center of Excellence (WCE) – Health Hub.

The goal is to create a central service center that provides mental health and addiction treatment services and temporary housing support.

“It will be a safe and secure facility to protect those it serves and the public,” said CDSB CAO Brian Marks at a press conference.

The place still operates as a hotel today.

The sale of the more than 100-unit hotel has not been finalized and a closing date is still being planned, he said.

Under the plan, Living Space would continue to be a low-barrier residence.

“A lot of people are not only interested in what (WCE) is going to be, but they’re really interested in what this is not going to be, and it’s not going to be an emergency shelter, ” said Marks.

Nor would it allow supervised use of the site or provide risk reduction tools.

It would provide education, training, training and social development.

The proposed site includes counseling rooms, indigenous healing areas, cultural education areas and social skills development areas for clients.

A private courtyard, kitchen, dining areas and the possibility of further development in the ballroom and the surrounding land are other features overseen by CDSB health director Jean Carriere, who has been relieved of his duties as a senior medical professional to lead the project.

“These services will not only improve the lives of our customers but will also provide opportunities to provide land-based services that are culturally important and important to our community. We look forward to the results “Several positives come out of this project, including easier transitions to permanent housing, a reduction in 911 calls and fewer emergency room visits,” he said.

Over the past decade, Marks said the needs of the people served by the CDSB — formerly known as the Cochrane County Community Services Board or CDSSAB — have become more complex.

He said, the integrated system of services and the place to provide those services, are the two main parts that are missing in the local service system.

One way local leaders are working to fill the service gap is through the safe use space (SCS).

Last year, Safe Health Site Timmins (SHST) received federal approval for a permanent facility. That allowed the organization to apply for funding from the province. However, applications for new sites had been put on hold at that stage to allow for a review of resources after a woman was hit by a stray bullet and killed outside the Toronto SCS.

SHST closed permanently in August, although it was not providing supervised consumption services at the time.

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Shortly after the doors closed, Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced a new direction.

The province is establishing 19 Homelessness and Addiction Treatment (HART) centres.

CDSB had a delegation representing WCE at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) meeting, where Jones made the announcement.

It’s not clear if there could eventually be more than 19 hubs. Jones said the state will start with that number before reassessing. Applications for HART hubs are now open.

The province’s goal is to open HART centers in the winter of 2025.

Although there is no set date for when the Timmins WCE will open, if there is a quick turnaround on the application Marks said it could be operational by January 2025.

If provincial funding doesn’t come through, he said CDSB could look to sell the facility in 12-18 months.

CDSB’s request for provincial funding for WCE exceeds $4.4 million annually from the Rehabilitation Recovery Fund (ARF) for withdrawal management, treatment and support beds.

It also seeks $1.5 million in one-time funding to renovate the hotel and an ongoing increase of $1 million for the Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) for short-term efforts.

With CDSB leading the initiative, project partners include Mushkegowuk Council, CMH-CT, urban Indian service partners, Family and Child Services of Northern Ontario, Kunuwanimano Child and Family Services, Timmins Academic Family Health Team, Northern College.

The Ramada Inn was chosen for several reasons.

It’s close to transportation, it’s conveniently located and the vacant lots are part of the price, Marks said.

Vacant sites are opportunities for land-based strategies for treatment and recovery, or can allow for additional housing.

The number of workers required to operate this type of building has not yet been determined. Marks said he will be able to answer that in four to six months.

“There are a number of discussions that remain to be had in terms of what HR support might need to be, and some of that will be addressed by the decision made on our funding request,” he said so.

Setting up a center also means that people who need immediate help can come in.

Marks explained that someone released from the Monteith Correctional Facility, for example, who has advanced mental health or substance abuse issues may not spend the night in an emergency shelter. . Instead, WCE is a place where he said they won’t be caught or caught by drug dealers posing as homeless people.

“It’s an opportunity for victims of intimate partner violence who can’t go to an emergency shelter, but they can have some place to go in addition to the current secondary shelters that we have with them,” he added.

A public meeting about the new facility is being held at 1800 Riverside Dr. on Monday, September 9 at 6:30 p.m.