London, ON – Carepoint, London’s only supervised consumption service, will close on June 13 following the Ontario Government’s decision to withdraw funding for Consumption and Treatment Service sites across the province. After June 13, supervised consumption services delivered by Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC) through its Carepoint program at 446 York Street will no longer be available.
While Carepoint’s supervised consumption services are ending, RHAC will continue to provide safer substance use supplies, overdose response resources, education, and referrals to care through the Counterpoint Needle and Syringe Program at RHAC’s 446 York Street location.
“This is a difficult moment for clients, staff, and the broader community,” says RHAC’s Executive Director Martin McIntosh. “Carepoint has helped keep people alive, connected to wraparound supports, and treated with dignity. While this service is ending, RHAC’s commitment to people who use substances is not.”
RHAC has operated Carepoint from 446 York Street since 2023. The service first opened in 2019 as a Temporary Overdose Prevention Site and has since become an important part of London’s response to the toxic drug and overdose crisis. Last year alone, Carepoint recorded more than 15,000 visits and responded to 218 overdoses. For many clients, it has been more than a health service. It has been a place of trust, immediate safety, and non-judgmental care. Following the provincial announcement in March, RHAC reviewed available options to continue Carepoint’s operations, including alternative funding and modified service approaches. However, without provincial funding, and given the operational and regulatory requirements attached to supervised consumption services, Carepoint cannot continue beyond June 13.
In collaboration with Middlesex-London Health Unit, Counterpoint will continue operating from RHAC’s 446 York Street location. Established in 1991, Counterpoint is one of RHAC’s longest-running programs and remains central to the organization’s work in HIV and hepatitis C prevention, testing, and education. Through Counterpoint, RHAC provides safer substance use supplies, overdose response resources, syringe recovery, peer supports, referrals, service navigation, and connections to treatment, health services, Indigenous-led supports, and community-based health and social services. Counterpoint does not provide supervised consumption services.
RHAC is also working with local health and community partners, and people who use substances, on a Continuity of Client Care Plan. This work is intended to help people who currently access Carepoint remain connected to available health, emergency, social, housing, and treatment supports.
“Our community continues to face a toxic and unpredictable drug supply that places lives at risk every day,” says McIntosh. “We are deeply grateful to the clients who trusted us with their care, and to the staff who made Carepoint a safe, welcoming, and compassionate space. During this transition, RHAC will continue to be a source of care, dignity, and support for the people directly affected by this change.”
Updates and guidance related to Carepoint’s closure will be available over the coming weeks at: hivaidsconnection.ca/Carepoint.
MEDIA CONTACT
Martin McIntosh
Executive Director, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection mmcintosh@hivaidsconnection.ca
226.700.2095