Staff and attendees at the open house for the Oakridge Health and Harm Reduction Hub.
On September 22, East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), the Ontario Health Team (OHT) serving East Toronto, hosted an open house at the Oakridge Health and Harm Reduction Hub.
The event offered community members the chance to meet the interdisciplinary hub team, learn more about the harm reduction and support services offered, and enjoy a complimentary BBQ and refreshments.
It took place during Recovery Month, which aims to share positive stories and spread the message that people recover, treatment works, and stigma related to substance use and mental health needs to be challenged.
Improving care for people who use substances
The hub offers walk-in services for people who use drugs and other substances. It is a judgement-free space that aims to improve the health and well-being of people who use substances and better connect local residents with health, social and community services.
The site is supported by Comprehensive Treatment Centre, Gerstein Crisis Centre, South Riverdale Community Health Centre, Sound Times Support Services and St. Michael’s Homes.
The hub is located in the Oakridge neighbourhood, which, according to the Toronto Overdose Information System, was among the top 20 neighbourhoods in Toronto that had the highest number of suspected opioid overdose calls to Toronto Paramedic Services in 2022. In 2021, Oakridge and the surrounding area also had 34 opioid toxicity deaths – among the highest in Toronto.
Celebrating expansion of services
Starting October 2, the hub is expanding its walk-in services to include addiction medicine, case management and more. The hub will also be expanding its hours. Learn more at ethp.ca/OakridgeHub.
This extends on the success of the hub model, which was originally piloted at a different location in East Toronto from 2020 to 2021.
We thank our partners and community members for their support of the Oakridge Health and Harm Reduction Hub, and look forward to continuing to improve the health and well-being of everyone in our community!
Check out the gallery below to see some photos from the open house at the Oakridge Health and Harm Reduction Hub.
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- Community members standing outside the Oakridge Health and Harm Reduction Hub.
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- A staff member serves a community member food at the open house.
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- Community members enjoy refreshments at the Oakridge Health and Harm Reduction Hub’s open house.
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- Staff and community members standing inside the Oakridge Health and Harm Reduction Hub.
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- Staff members at the hub open house.
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- A staff member serves a community member food at the Open House at the Oakridge Health and Harm Reduction Hub.
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- Staff members and attendees at the hub open house.
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- A staff member and client inside the Oakridge Health and Harm Reduction Hub.