A new hub for mental health, addictions and housing support services has opened in Pembroke.
A grand opening ceremony for the Renfrew County Mesa HART Hub was held on Thursday, February 5th.
The facility, located at the Carefor Mackay Centre in Pembroke, will provide services to people struggling with homelessness, mental health issues and substance abuse.
Renfrew County’s Chief Administrative Officer, Craig Kelley, spoke at the event saying it was something people within the county and other levels of government have been working towards for a long time.
Many figures involved at various stages in the process of opening the facility were in attendance.
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP Billy Denault spoke about the provincial government’s investments in expanding housing, mental health and addictions services.
Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP John Jordan was also in attendance on behalf of Associate Minister of Health and Addictions Vijay Thanigasalam, who Jordan works as a parliamentary assistant to.
Jordan spoke about the government’s work to expand healthcare access provincially.
Renfrew County Warden Jennifer Murphy said the opening of the hub is an important milestone, because the work it represents reflects the needs of people in the community.
Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais said he believes the city and the surrounding area needs more serivces like this, and that he was proud to be in attendance.
Pembroke Regional Hospital CEO and President Sabine Mersmann said that collaboration has always been one of her team’s top priorities, and she’s pleased to see so many different groups join forces to open the Mesa HART Hub.
Representatives from Carefor were also in attendance.
The hub is built on the “Mesa” model, described as a “collaborative, multi-sector approach” to providing care for people in need of its services.
(Written by Steve Berard)