The following are liveposts I published during the October 17, 2025, open house regarding Hamilton’s first Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Hub which will be opening at 276 Aberdeen Avenue early in the new year.

  1. 6:34 PM
    Good evening. I am at 276 Aberdeen Ave for the public consultation on the planned Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub that will operate here.
    This will be outdoors and standing room only, a lot of people are lined up at the gate, not yet in. #hamont (1/x)
  1. 6:34 PM
    There is online participation via MS Teams tonight. You can find the login information on the HART operators website here: https://hucchc.com/community-events
    #hamont (2/x)
  1. 6:41 PM
    There are over 100 people gathered in the backyard of 276 Aberdeen Avenue. I cannot see the overflow from my position.
    (3/x)
  1. 6:48 PM
    Present for this open house:
    Ward 1 Clr Maureen Wilson
    Hamilton Centre MPP Dr. Robin Lennox MD. (Dr. Lennox is wearing two hats. She is addictions medicine physician)
    (4/x)
  1. 6:48 PM
    Moderating in his capacity as Greater Hamilton Health Network, l Manager, Health Equity, Haldimand, and Mental Health and Addictions is Ryan Janssen.
    Janssen is a Board Member of the City of Hamilton Board of Health. (5/x)
  1. 6:53 PM
    It is beginning to rain. This is an outdoor meeting. The audio setup is inadequate for the size of the crowd. (6/x)
  1. 6:56 PM
    We are now in the Question and Answer portion of tonight’s open house. (7/x)
  1. 7:00 PM
    First question, says “the concept is great” “my question is about process” says he has a Masters in Public Policy focused on homelessness.
    Lives 200 metres away.
    Says not enough consultation.
    What has been done beyond the minimum required engagement (8/x)
  1. 7:03 PM
    How many beds will be in the HART?
    18 to start. Could expand if permitted to have more beds via zoning, fire code, etc. (9/x)
  1. 7:03 PM
    Next question begins by stating they support services, want services for people, but they are very concerned about if there will be the needed resources to succeed and prevent negative outcomes for surrounding area that occurs at other programs. (10/x)
  1. 7:07 PM
    What does the promise of security at the HART Hub mean?
    How will the HART be responsive to the community?
    The program is 8 to 12 weeks, why 8 to 12 weeks?
    Answer back was similar to what is already on the HART website. (11/x)
  1. 7:09 PM
    Next question: is this similar to private treatment and addiction services which are often 4 weeks long.
    Answer is they looked at both public and private rehab.
    This program is no charge to patients/users, publicly funded. (12/x)
  1. 7:10 PM
    The rain is creating background noise that makes it hard for people to hear. This is causing frustration for people trying to listen. (13/x)
  1. 7:11 PM
    The next question is a speech against “NIMBYism” and states they support the HART to cheers from those who share that position. (14/x)
  1. 7:14 PM
    The direct neighbour is the next questioner.
    What is the HART doing to ensure there is not spillover problems from things that may occur at the site. How will safety be ensured.
    HART Executive Director says they will have 24/7 security, they are prepared to engage with the neighbours. (15/x)
  1. 7:16 PM
    It is now a steady rain. I do not know how many people are standing in the rain because I cannot see them all. (16/x)
  1. 7:19 PM
    Next question: what is being done to ensure that associates of patients/residents, who are not good influences, are not coming to the property.
    I am going to come back to the answer with a recorded dictation of the exact words to enable you to assess the answer yourself. (17/x)
  1. 7:21 PM
    Questions are focused on how the HART will operate within the community. (18/x)
  1. 7:23 PM
    Question on what regulated health professionals, beyond doctors (physicians), will be providing services. Specifically a concern about what a “life coach” is.
    Answer is the life coach role will be regulated professionals with Masters degree. (19/x)
  1. 7:26 PM
    Next question opens by stating he paid ‘good money’ to buy here, could have saved money buying downtown but didn’t want to deal with problems there. ‘Call me a NIMBY if you want’
    Says the HART should be downtown.
    Some applause.
    Questions on preventing problems, relapse, and safety. (20/x)
  1. 7:29 PM
    Next question: what were the alternative sites considered?
    This is a low-density zoning location.
    Response from Executive Director is this site met all requirements, cost effective lease terms, can operate in zoning.
    Says they “are not at liberty” to share other considered sites. (21/x)
  1. 7:31 PM
    Next question: introduces themselves as a medical student who lives in the neighbourhood.
    Asks what is being done to welcome the clients to the neighbourhood. Applause in response. (22/x)
  1. 7:33 PM
    Next question: concerned about short length of program. Blames Conservative government for not being willing to fund longer.
    Says people who have addictions do not bring crime, they are neighbours, concerned about shame and stigma.
    Some applause. (23/x)
  1. 7:35 PM
    The over 100 people here are listening intently. There is no heckling, no exchanges between people in the audience. You could hear a pin drop if it were not for the background noise of the rain and cars driving on Aberdeen. (24/x)
  1. 7:39 PM
    Question: is there housing for people when they complete the HART programming? There will be dedicated units with Indwell and Good Shepherd for the next stage.
  1. 7:39 PM
    Question: is there housing for people when they complete the HART programming?
    There will be dedicated units with Indwell and Good Shepherd for the next stage. (26/x)
  1. 7:41 PM
    Question: the lease for 276 Aberdeen was signed before there was consultation. Community petition calling for a pause “was ignored.”
    Says they have lost “trust” and “why should we trust you as a community”
    One heckle “speak for yourself”
    Answer from HART is acknowledgement “trust is earned” (27/x)
  1. 7:43 PM
    HART director says trust is a two-way process. They will work to earn community trust, and they need the community to allow them to earn trust. (28/x)
  1. 7:45 PM
    The questioner says “i will give you benefit of the doubt” and allow them to earn trust. (29/x)
  1. 7:46 PM
    Next question: says she is more worried for her kids due to dangerous traffic on Aberdeen than a treatment site.
    Asks what are the best practices for community safety at other similar treatment sites. (30/x)
  1. 7:47 PM
    Next question is a supporter of the HART and supervised consumption sites. (31/x)
  1. 7:51 PM
    Last question. A question, no comment.
    How many treatment and addictions programs do you have experience running?
    They list many of their programs, adding this will be the first residential program they operate. (32/x)
  1. 7:53 PM
    A follow-up question regarding the problems at the Bartom/Tiffany City of Hamilton tiny homes program. Question is how to make sure the security concerns there do not repeat. (33/x)
  1. 7:56 PM
    And that is the end of the session.
    In my now-nearly 20 years covering news, this is the best flowing and best crowd i have ever experienced in a public forum with over 50 people.
    Honestly. Especially noteworthy with poor sound system and rain in an outdoor meeting. (34/x)
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: October 19, 2025
Last updated: October 19, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman

Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version

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