Word on whether a Homelessness and Addictions Recovery Treatment “HART” Hub for Cochrane and Timiskaming districts is approved is expected by the middle of this month. The director of health for the Cochrane District Services Board is promising more public consultation about the site, the Ramada Inn in Timmins.
Jean Carriere says it will not be a repeat of the session in September which broke down in chaos.
“They will be in better organized sessions, they’ll be smaller,” he pledges, “it’ll be in a safe environment where people will be able to have conversations, where they’ll be able to express what is happening, and their concerns.”
Carriere acknowledges that fears about lax security are at the centre of so many vociferous objections. He promises “robust security” at the site. That includes lighting, cameras and constant staffing.
“We will absolutely have people on site 24 hours. We will have professionals on site 24 hours: Counsellors, physicians, nurse practitioners, mental health and addiction workers, social workers.”
Listen to our full 18-minute interview right here.
