Carepoint Permanent Site Set to Open Week of February 27 | Regional HIV/AIDS Connection

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Carepoint Permanent Site Set to Open Week of February 27

February 17, 2023

 

London, ON - Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC), along with partners London Intercommunity Health Centre (LIHC) and Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU), is pleased to announce the construction at 446 York Street is near completion and scheduled to open the week of February 27th to March 1st .

The Ontario Ministry of Health approved up to $1.795 million in capital funding for the approximate $2.2 million dollar project with RHAC securing the balance of the required investment. As a result of a tender released in March 2022, Bronnenco Construction LTD was the company selected for the retrofit project which commenced May of 2022.

“The project to renovate the space at 446 York Street and create a permanent supervised consumption and treatment site comes at a critical time for our community,” says Dr. Alex Summers, Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “The consumption and treatment model that has been the backbone of Carepoint has a proven history of saving lives and linking people to the supports they need.

Like many cities and towns across Canada, London continues to be faced with a challenging opioid and overdose crisis, which has worsened because of increasing issues associated with the emergence of a more toxic and deadly street drug supply. The Carepoint program has seen the demand for its services continue throughout the pandemic. The program is a vital lifesaving service and wraparound support for many of London’s most marginalized citizens and remains a criticalpart of the care continuum in our community.

“We have been very eager for the construction work to be completed so we can provide this vital life-saving service in a well-designed and welcoming space as we continue to respond to London’s opioid /overdose crisis” says Sonja Burke, Director of Harm Reduction Services at RHAC.

Carepoint has been operating out of a temporary trailer on the property front at 446 York since end of June 2022. This transition has helped to orient service users to the intended long-term location of the program which has continued to run from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., seven days a week, including statutory holidays.

"Establishing a permanent Consumption and Treatment Service site is a testament to what is possible when we come together to support the needs of our most marginalized community members,” says Scott Courtice, Executive Director of the InterCommunity Health Centre. "The new facility will continue to save lives and will enhance our ability to support Londoners with wrap around medical and social services."

Interested in a tour? Contact Sonja Burke at sburke@hivaidsconnection.ca