Over 100 people gathered outside in the backyard of 276 Aberdeen Avenue on Friday evening to share their thoughts and concerns regarding a soon-to-open Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub at the location in the centre of the affluent Kirkendall neighbourhood.
Neighbourhood questions primarily focused on safety for patients and the broader community, mitigation of impacts for immediate neighbours, the site selection process, and accountability of the operators, the Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre (HUCHC).
It was a calm meeting, without any significant disruptions, heckling, people talking over each other, or even raised voices.
The meeting was moderated by Greater Hamilton Health Network Manager of Health Equity, Haldimand, and Mental Health and Addictions Ryan Janssen. Taking questions from the audience were Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre Executive Director Dr. Sandy Ezepue (DSc RHL) and HUCHC Board Chair Ike Agbassi.
Also in attendance were Ward 1 Councillor Maureen Wilson and Hamilton Centre MPP Dr. Robin Lennox, a physician who actively practises in addiction medicine. Janssen is a Member of the Hamilton Board of Health.
Background: Province Shifts Funds from Consumption Sites to HART Hubs
The Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre is opening Hamilton’s first HART Hub as part of the Ontario Progressive Conservative government’s policy shift to close supervised consumption sites. The provincial government passed legislation banning consumption sites from operating within 200 metres of schools and licensed child-care centres, a move that resulted in the closure of the downtown consumption site operated by HUCHC, which had first opened in June 2018.
Premier Doug Ford stated the government is prioritizing community safety, and the new focus is on creating these new hubs designed to provide integrated services including primary care, mental health support, addiction treatment, and supportive housing. The HART Hubs are an abstinence-based model focused on recovery.
Community Concerns and Questions Expressed at Meeting
Safety and security was the primary community concern. Many of the questions focused on how HUCHC will prevent ‘problematic’ visitors from attending the site and causing disturbances.
“[The patients] have associates that will try and contact them and they might regress [from treatment]. I hope they don’t. But what are you doing to make sure that doesn’t happen? That their associates come and they get back into it?,” one resident asked.
HUCHC Executive Director Sandy Ezepue stated there will be 24/7 round-the-clock security on site, they will patrol the grounds and area, and they will turn away any unpermitted visitors.
“We’ll have 24/7 security guards that would help maintain safety. They’ll patrol the courtyard area, like the neighbouring residential areas, just to make sure that people are not dropping in, like you said, associates. There’s controlled access to the building.”
Many concerns were expressed about “spillover problems” similar to what has been experienced around consumption sites and the City of Hamilton low-barrier tiny homes in the Barton/Tiffany area.
One individual expressed concerns about even allowing the service to operate in the neighbourhood.
“I just moved here last year, part of the reason why I moved to this community is because it’s a nice community. We could have saved a ton of money closer to downtown. But what goes on downtown? I don’t want to be around. So I just don’t want that coming to this community. Call me NIMBYism. Call me what you want, but I feel everyone in this neighbourhood has worked hard for where they’ve gotten, and I’m just questioning if it’s necessary for something like this to be in this neighbourhood. It’s like, why can’t this be downtown?”
Ezepue responded that “clients have to adhere to behavioural contracts” and there will be “mitigation strategies in place” to ensure adherence to expectations. Others in the audience stated they wish to welcome the HART Hub and its patients to the community, saying they do not want any NIMBYism to block the project.
Everyone listened intently as the immediate neighbour shared his concerns.
“I live right next door in this house … you can see my backyard … my children are pretty young, and we’re talking about having a population that is relatively volatile come into this site. And I am extremely concerned for my children’s safety,” he began.
“How possibly can you make this site safe for me and my family, given our proximity to this location?”
Ezepue stated, “We’re committed to working with you, especially since you’re right next door to come up with ways that we can try to make the site safe. We already have parameters in place such as 24/7 security.”
“We’re also committed to establishing a neighbourhood liaison table, which, you know, since you’re next door, I invite you to join that team because your insights would be really beneficial, and we’re committed to working with you to see how we can mitigate this risk.”
Board Chair Agbassi committed to adding better perimeter fencing as one of the mitigation measures.
Another resident stated, “I feel more worried walking on Aberdeen Avenue with my three kids rather than having a treatment site here.”
She added, “I think there are so many different safety issues in our community, and this one would not be my number one concern.”
Process and trust were repeated topics of questions. A nearby resident, who stated he completed a master’s degree in public policy focusing on the topic of homelessness, questioned if the consultation was anything more than meeting bare minimum requirements. Another man stated he could not trust HUCHC because a petition calling for a “pause” on the HART plan was ‘ignored’ and added the lease for 276 Aberdeen was signed before any consultation began.
Agbassi acknowledged that “trust is earned” and committed to working with the community, adding they could not disclose the plan earlier than they did, citing ‘funder requirements.’
Many questions were about the program’s details and operations.
Ezepue stated the program will begin “with a maximum of 18 beds for year 1,” and expansion “will be determined based on the municipal permit approvals, on what the capacity of the building can take, as well as community needs and feasibility of the program.”
The program length is eight to 12 weeks, which is publicly funded and free of charge to patients, distinguishing it from some shorter, private programs. All medical and social services staff will be regulated professionals.
When patients complete the HART program, there will be dedicated transitional housing units available for them with Indwell and Good Shepherd.
HUCHC’s Promise to Earn Trust
In response to a question about experience, Ezepue confirmed this will be the first residential program they operate, though listed some of the many non-residential treatment and addictions programs HUCHC is experienced with providing.
The final words of the night were delivered by Agbassi, “We’re going to earn your trust. We’re going to earn your support,” adding HUCHC will consult more and listen to the community.
The program hopes to open in early 2026. More information is available on the HUCHC website.
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: October 18, 2025
Last updated: October 18, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version