Michael Glomba commends Thunder Bay, Ont., for its exceptional outreach services, noting their unique nature compared to other locations across the country. Originally from London, Ont., Glomba has resided in various regions nationwide and has spent the last six months in the northwestern Ontario city while awaiting housing placement. Through his journey, he connected with the Waabanung Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub and is actively participating in its HART WORKS pilot initiative.
Expressing the importance of raising awareness about the beneficial resources available, Glomba emphasized, “A lot of people need to be more aware of what’s really here and what’s going on because it really does help.”
The HART Hub model was introduced by the Ontario government in January 2025, following new regulations in August 2024 regarding the proximity of supervised consumption sites to schools and child-care settings, which led to the closure of several sites across the province. Thunder Bay’s HART Hub commenced operations in April 2025 after the shutdown of the city’s lone supervised consumption site, Path 525.
Initially hosted by People Advocating for Change Through Empowerment (PACE) at 510 Victoria Ave., the HART Hub relocated to 409 George St. alongside PACE. Recently, the community partners celebrated the grand opening of the HART Hub’s new location at 500 Simpson St. on the city’s south side, providing comprehensive services under one roof, as stated by Juanita Lawson, CEO of NorWest Community Health Centres (NWCHC), the lead partner of the HART Hub.
With Thunder Bay recording the highest opioid-related death rate in the province, the HART Hub aims to offer primary care, employment support, mental health services, addiction recovery programs, and social services to individuals in need. Unlike supervised consumption sites, the HART Hubs do not facilitate supervised drug consumption, safer supply programs, or needle exchange services.
As Thunder Bay city council declared a homelessness crisis in February and housing remains a challenge, Lawson highlighted the ongoing efforts to address these issues and support individuals in securing transitional housing while meeting their varied needs. The goal is to provide a continuum of care and support individuals on their path to success, as emphasized by Thunder Bay—Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland.
Glomba, participating in the HART WORKS program, is developing employment skills and accessing essential health and social services. The pilot program’s success is being assessed by NWCHC to determine its continuation, with participants sharing positive feedback about the sense of community and structure it has provided.
In conclusion, the HART Hub in Thunder Bay continues to play a pivotal role in addressing homelessness, addiction, and related challenges, offering a holistic approach to support individuals in need within the community.