December 3, 2025 – Oxford HART Hub Update: Expanded Central Intake and Start of Bed-Based Care

Central intake for the Oxford HART Hub is now available 24/7. That means individuals 18+ looking for mental health and addiction support can self-refer anytime by calling 519-537-2382. A member of the HART Hub team will talk through your needs, explain your options, and connect you to the right care pathway.

We have also reached a major milestone for the temporary Oxford Wellness Centre. On December 1, the temporary site on Huron Street officially began bed-based care. This is a voluntary treatment and recovery facility – not a shelter or a supervised drug consumption site that is in place while construction continues at 16 Graham Street. The temporary facility includes four withdrawal management beds and six supportive treatment beds. Last but not least, outpatient group therapy is set to begin in welcoming community spaces throughout Oxford County.

Thank you to all of the staff and community partners who helped make this possible! Together, we’re enhancing mental health and addiction services for our community.

November 7, 2025 – Oxford HART Hub Update: Central Intake Now Open

Work continues to advance on the Oxford HART Hub – a network of coordinated care designed to support individuals in Oxford County who are facing complex health and social needs, including homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges.

A new central intake process launched on November 3, 2025, allowing individuals seeking mental health and addictions support to self-refer by calling 519-537-2382, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Members of the HART Hub team will help callers understand their options and connect them to the right care pathway. As the Oxford HART Hub continues to evolve, we will phase in services, including:

• 24/7 central intake supports and system navigation
• Outpatient group therapy sessions to support recovery and wellness
• Voluntary residential care at a temporary Wellness Centre at 369 Huron Street in Woodstock, with four beds for withdrawal management and six beds for addiction supportive treatment
• Mental Health and Addictions transitional supportive housing
• Primary Care
• Wraparound services to support the full continuum of care

The temporary Wellness Centre will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team, including nursing staff, social workers, peer support workers, and recreational therapists. There will also be on-site security, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all clients, staff, and neighbours.

The Wellness Centre is part of the broader Oxford HART Hub network –  a community-grown solution built on partnership, compassion, and learning. Together, partners across Oxford County are building health, hope, and stability for all.

Explore the FAQs below for additional information about Oxford’s HART Hub.

October 24, 2025 – Oxford HART Hub Update: Progress Towards Building a Network of Care for Oxford County

Work continues on the Oxford HART Hub — a coordinated network of care designed to support individuals in Oxford County facing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges.

Over the past several months, community partners have been working together through a co-design process to shape how the HART Hub’s programs and services will be delivered. This important collaboration is helping ensure that Oxford’s HART Hub reflects local needs, values, and expertise — a made-in-Oxford solution built on compassion, partnership and hope.

As plans advance, several job opportunities will emerge to support the Oxford HART Hub. Click here to view HART Hub-related job postings. These positions are part of the growing effort to improve access, dignity, and outcomes for our community.

More information will be shared soon about available services, timing, and how community members will be able to begin to access care.

The goal remains to connect people to the right help, at the right time, close to home – and to build a healthier, safer Oxford County for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

In October 2024, the Oxford Ontario Health (OHT) Team, Woodstock Hospital, and several community partners submitted a joint HART Hub application to the Ministry of Health. On January 27, 2025, the Ministry announced our local HART Hub application had been approved.

But what does this really mean for our community? We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions, but please remember this information may change and evolve as our meaningful work on the Oxford HART Hub progresses.

1. What is an Oxford HART Hub?

The Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub is a made-in-Oxford model of care that will connect health, housing, and social supports across the County.

While the term “Hub” may sound like a single site, the Oxford HART Hub is not a building. It’s a coordinated system of local organizations working together so that no matter where someone turns for help, they can be guided to the right supports for recovery and long-term stability. Part of this new system will be the Oxford County Wellness Centre at 16 Graham Street in Woodstock. To ensure that people can begin accessing services while construction continues at the permanent Wellness Centre location at 16 Graham Street, a temporary Wellness Centre will be opened at 369 Huron Street in Woodstock.

2. What does this mean for our community?

This is fantastic news for Woodstock and Oxford County. For the first time, the region will have dedicated treatment and recovery beds. The collaborative nature of this initiative will help achieve seamless, wraparound care for individuals who need it most. It will also help avoid duplication of services and optimize community resources.

3. Where will the HART Hub be located? Is it at 16 Graham Street in Woodstock?

As mentioned in response to question #1, the Oxford HART Hub is not a building. It’s a coordinated system of local organizations working together to provide the right supports individuals facing homelessness, housing instability, substance use, and mental health challenges.

To support this work, Woodstock Hospital’s Board of Trust and Senior Leadership team made the strategic decision to purchase 16 Graham Street in Woodstock, which will become the future Oxford County Wellness Centre – a cornerstone of this work.

The Wellness Centre will include 50 dedicated mental health and addiction treatment beds. This facility will also enable some service providers to co-locate under one roof, further strengthening an integrated care model.

16 Graham Street was chosen because:

• It is centrally located and accessible to those in need, close to local transportation
• It is in close proximity to existing health, social, and human services, creating a low-barrier continuum of care
• The existing infrastructure allows for effective repurposing, minimizing delays in launching much-needed services

4. Who is involved in the HART Hub?

• Oxford Ontario Health Team (OHT)
• Woodstock Hospital (Operational Lead)
• CMHA Thames Valley Addiction & Mental Health Services
• Indwell
• Southwestern Public Health
• Oxford County Community Health Centre
• Oxford County Human Services Department
• Thames Valley Family Health Team
• Oxford County Paramedic Services
• Wellkin Child & Youth Mental Wellness
• Operation Sharing
• United Way Oxford
• Woodstock Police Service
• Oxford County OPP
• Ingersoll Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic
• Alexandra Hospital Ingersoll
• Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital
• Salvation Army – Tillsonburg

5. What services will the HART Hub offer?

The HART Hub client journey is designed as a holistic, client-centred process that guides individuals from initial engagement through to long-term stability and recovery.  It follows a structured pathway, ensuring that clients receive the support they need at every stage.

Please keep in mind, we are still developing programs and services with our community partners, but these are some of the core elements:

• System Navigation – Warmly welcoming each client, working together to co-identify their needs, and connecting them to the right support services. A mobile outreach component ensures we reach clients where they are, providing information and access to available resources throughout the collaborative network.
• Education – Providing clients with practical tools and strategies to better understand and manage their mental health. Examples include guidance on navigating negative self-talk, coping with cravings and triggers, and building resilience in their daily lives.
• Individual Programming – Personalized support tailored to each client’s needs, including counselling, brief therapy, and addiction recovery services to help individuals navigate their mental health and wellness journey.
• Group Programming – Providing a supportive environment where individuals can connect, share experiences, and work toward their personal goals in a group setting.
• Core Addiction Programming – When clients first identify they need  support, it may be in the form of medically supported withdrawal management beds. They will require acute services before they reach the stability stage to engage in programming.

Please note that Oxford HART Hub services are for clients 18+.

6. How is the HART Hub different from a Supervised Drug Consumption Site?

HART Hubs are not Supervised Drug Consumption Sites. Supervised Drug Consumption Sites provide supervised spaces for individuals to use substances safely. The Hub’s primary purpose is to support individuals through system navigation, mental health and addictions programming, recovery, relapse prevention, and reintegration into the community with supportive housing and primary care services. The HART Hub approach to care will address immediate needs and set individuals up for long-term support and stability.

7. Why isn’t the Wellness Centre component of the HART HUB subject to the 200-metre rule regarding schools?

HART Hubs are an integrated model of care, they are not the same as Supervised Drug Consumption Sites. HART Hubs focus on treatment and recovery services and therefore, the Ministry of Health has not required any restriction on the distance from schools.

The Wellness Centre at 16 Graham Street will not offer safe consumption or other services which require distancing measures.

8. Can People Leave the Wellness Centre?

People receiving residential treatment services will not be able to come and go. Since it’s a voluntary program, people choose to come, but once they start treatment, they need to stay on-site for the duration to ensure a supported recovery.

If residential clients must leave for an appointment or other significant event, they will be supported by staff when offsite. Leaving the centre will be part of a co-created treatment plan which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

9. How will you ensure the safety of clients, staff, and the community at 16 Graham Street?

The Wellness Centre will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team, including nursing staff, social workers, peer support workers, and recreational therapists. There will also be on-site security, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all clients, staff, and neighbours.

The HART Hub model of care is designed to improve community safety, not compromise it. By providing individuals with immediate support and an integrated pathway to recovery, we are reducing the likelihood of disruptive behaviours in public spaces. When individuals receive proper care and support, overall community safety improves.

10. Will there be more people hanging around 16 Graham Street? How will that be handled?

We don’t expect increased loitering. The Wellness Centre is a place where individuals come for scheduled appointments or receive treatment. If someone is hanging out without a reason to be there, they will be asked to leave. Safety is our top priority and security will be on site.

11. When will the HART Hub open?

The announcement of our HART Hub’s approval is a significant milestone, but we are still in the early stages of implementation. We will provide updates as the project progresses.

12. How can the community stay informed?

The HART Hub community partners will work on engagement strategies to keep our community informed and ensure our HART Hub’s success. Please follow along on Woodstock Hospital and Oxford OHT’s communication channels for details, including this webpage!

If you have specific questions or concerns about this project, please email info@woodstockhospital.ca, and we will respond as soon as possible.