The AIDS Network has decided to withdraw applications to the Ministry of Health and Health Canada to operate a Consumption Treatment Services (CTS) site at 746 Barton Street East.
We are doing so for a variety of reasons.
We have been engaged for two years in a process for which we were not funded while maintaining and delivering our programs and services. We decided to accept the challenge of submitting this application on behalf of our many partners who asked us to do this including Hamilton Public Health Services. We do support the Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre (HUCCHC) application for a second CTS site at 413 Cannon Street in their new facility in Ward Three.
The recent provincial review of Consumption Treatment Services and now pause on new applications following a tragic incident at a Toronto CTS has also influenced our decision. We have been engaged in discussions over the past few months with our Board, Hamilton Public Health Services, Ministry of Health staff and other community partners. The landlord of 746 Barton Street East who has been kindly and patiently waiting during the application process needs to make plans but has expressed interest in renting the space for community purposes.
We thank Mayor Andrea Horwath and Councillor Nann for their support of life saving harm reduction programs and services.
We look forward to working within the many communities we serve and continuing our mission and vision.
Tim McClemont
Executive Director