Ottawa’s Chinatown businesses concerned over plan to open HART hub [Video]

Businesses in Ottawa’s Chinatown neighbourhood are expressing concerns over a planned Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment centre, also known as a HART hub, that is slated to open in the area.

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Some business owners say they have been dealing with consistent issues relating to homelessness in the area and are not sure the addition of the hub, which will replace the safe consumption site in the Somerset West Community Health Centre, will help solve that.

The hub is set to open inside the centre at 55 Eccles St. off Booth Street. The proposed HART hub will offer a mix of health and social services for addiction care, which could include withdrawal support, walk-in healthcare and counselling, other addiction management and housing supports.

The site will not offer safe consumption services or a needle exchange.

Wahid …