The Emergency Treatment Fund (ETF) is part of the Government of Canada's efforts to help communities rapidly respond to emerging, critical needs related to the illegal drug crisis.
Health Canada is providing more than $11.4 million through the ETF to 8 projects across Ontario. Funding will support a wide range of urgent interventions to increase local capacity to help populations most affected by the illegal drug crisis.
The following are the projects receiving funding:
Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services - Aabiziishin (revival; coming back to life) Emergency Treatment, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
$3,626,257 to address the fatal risks associated with opioid use disorder while decreasing barriers to care for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities where these risks are highest, in urban Sault Ste. Marie and in the First Nations along the North Shore of Lake Huron. This project will focus on involvement of a person with lived experience, a vehicle and crisis counselling team, along with group activities to support recovery.
City of Sault Ste. Marie - The Sault Ste. Marie Outreach and Wellness Response Team (OWR- Team), Sault Ste. Marie, ON
$3,557,503 to address the mental health, addictions, and illegal drug crisis by creating a dedicated 24/7 community outreach and wellness response team in the Sault Ste. Marie district. The team will provide low-barrier access to medical, mental health, addiction, harm reduction, and housing support for vulnerable populations.
Kenora Chiefs Advisory (KCA) Inc. - Enhancing Confidential Access to Mental Health and Addiction Services in KCA's 8 Affiliated First Nations, Kenora, ON
$1,961,250 to improve access to services in KCA's affiliated First Nations communities by providing private, safe, and destigmatizing meeting spaces. These spaces will reduce barriers to care, provide culturally safe environments, and encourage community members to seek support close to home.
Wiidookaage Waabandan - Helping People See a Problem Through a Different Lens, Birch Island, ON
$1,050,623 to build capacity among service providers and First Nations communities on Manitoulin Island by delivering urgent supports and training to frontline staff. The project is providing 24-hour on-call support, in-person response, and ongoing training for local First Nations members, hospital staff, and police services.
City of Orillia - Emergency Addiction and Mental Health Services, Orillia, ON
$589,244 to scale up existing crisis, outreach and system navigation services through a frontline supervisor/counsellor and other frontline staff, a vehicle for outreach, and increased security measures and a private counselling room.
City of Thunder Bay - Pathways to Health: Mobile Harm Reduction Outreach for Safer Communities in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay ON
An amendment of $412,500 to address the pressing health and housing needs of individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness and the illegal drug crisis in Thunder Bay. With this amendment, the project is receiving a total of $650,460 in funding.
Wikwemikong Unceded lndian Reserve - Kii Daanaandwengwan (The Earth is Healing Me), Wikwemikong, ON
An amendment of $160,019 to hire a program coordinator to lead the development and implementation of a healing program focused on connecting community members to culture and the land, to address substance use issues. With this amendment, the project is receiving a total of $1,026,118 in funding.
Ngwaagan Gamig Recovery Centre Inc. - Pretreatment Transition Home - Wikwemikong, ON
An amendment of $79,712 to operate a fully equipped six-bed residential Pretreatment Transition Home situated within the Ngwaagan Gamig Recovery Centre Inc. With this amendment, the project is receiving a total of $1,049,047 in funding.
