Council weighs next steps as Kingston faces uncertain future for harm reduction services

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Kingston is facing a major shift in its addiction services as provincial funding for the Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) site is set to end June 13, with no confirmed replacement in place. 

The 90-day notice from the Province potentially leaves Kingston with a significant gap, especially without an approved Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hub.

Two motions were introduced at Council’s last meeting in an effort to face the anticipated closure. One called for exploring legal and financial options to keep services running, but was ultimately deferred. A second motion, focused on maintaining services at the Integrated Care Hub and supporting a transition plan, passed unanimously.

For now, Kingston remains in limbo, awaiting decisions from the Province while bracing for the loss of the harm reduction service that has operated since 2018.

Listen to the full story here.