New Grey-Bruce community services hub provides mental health, addictions, housing support in one location

(Owen Sound, Oct. 19, 2020) – A new community services hub for Grey and Bruce Counties is now open to provide community members with improved access to mental health and addictions services, housing supports and system navigation.

Housing, Outreach & Wellness Grey-Bruce (H.O.W. Grey-Bruce), a partnership initiative between Grey Bruce Health Services, Canadian Mental Health Association Grey Bruce Mental Health and Addiction Services, Grey County and Bruce County, is now open in downtown Owen Sound. Based at 854 2^nd Ave. East, it will operate Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The central, downtown location will provide a more co-ordinated response to mental health and addictions needs, homelessness and other immediate needs from a social determinants of health perspective, while increasing partnerships among human service providers throughout Owen Sound and across Grey Bruce.

This collaboration will enhance community partners’ ability to work together and connect individuals to appropriate services, improving quality of care in a responsive and recovery-oriented manner.

“I believe this collaboration will improve both the access and co-ordination of services,” said CMHA Grey Bruce CEO Clark MacFarlane. “This will contribute to better outcomes for those we serve.”

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 Grey and Bruce experiencing chronic homelessness to link them with community supports and affordable housing. 

H.O.W. Grey-Bruce is taking all precautions to ensure the health and safety of the individuals it supports during COVID-19. Masks are required inside the building and individuals are asked to adhere to physical distancing protocols.

H.O.W. Grey-Bruce has been made possible through funding from Grey County and Bruce County, along with assistance from Grey Bruce Health Services and CMHA Grey Bruce.

Fast facts:

• People with a mental illness are twice as likely to have a substance use problem compared to the general population. 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.

• Similarly, people with substance use problems are up to three times more likely to have a mental illness. More than 15 per cent of people with a substance use problem have a co-occurring mental illness.

• 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.

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