A new Grey Bruce community services hub for mental health, addictions and housing support has opened in Owen Sound.
Housing, Outreach & Wellness Grey Bruce (H.O.W. Grey Bruce), based at 854 2nd Avenue East, will aim to provide a more coordinated response to mental health and addictions needs, homelessness and other immediate needs.
A media release describes the centre as part of a new partnership between Grey Bruce Health Services, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Grey Bruce Mental Health and Addiction Services as well as Grey and Bruce Counties.
The idea is to enhance community partners’ ability to work together and connect individuals to appropriate services, improving quality of care.
Local Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) CEO Clark MacFarlane says in a statement, “I believe this collaboration will improve both the access and co-ordination of services.”
Key services include a mental health clinic operated by Grey Bruce Health Services, as well as outreach services by CMHA Grey Bruce that will provide direct support to people living with mental health and addictions who are living in precarious housing.
H.O.W. Grey-Bruce also offers new support and access services for people experiencing homelessness, including a housing system navigator that will work with individuals throughout the area who are experiencing chronic homelessness to link them with community supports and affordable housing.
The initiative is supported by funding from Grey and Bruce Counties, Grey Bruce Health Services and CMHA Grey Bruce.
The Canadian Mental Health Association notes, people with a mental illness are twice as likely to have a substance use problem compared to the general population. They say at least 20 per cent of people with a mental illness have a co-occurring substance use problem. For people with schizophrenia, the number may be as high as 50 per cent.
The CMHA notes, the cost to house a person in the community with mental health supports is $72 per day, compared to $460 per day to house a person in jail or $485 per day in hospital.
The H.O.W. hub will operate Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
