Building a stronger future

The evolution of the Community Integrated Care Hub for the John Howard Society of the Kawarthas

As the Program Director of the John Howard Society of the Kawarthas’ Community Integrated Care Hub (the Hub), I have the privilege of witnessing daily the impact that compassionate, integrated supports can have on some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The Hub has always been more than just a building, it is a safe place, a bridge to resources, and a vital piece of our collective response to complex issues like homelessness, substance use, and mental health challenges.

The Hub began as a pilot project funded through federal support, with a focus on providing harm reduction services and education to people in our community. This initial two-year grant allowed us to lay the foundation for meaningful engagement and support. We were fortunate to see the project receive a one-time extension, which enabled us to continue the work until March 31, 2024.

As the door on our successful pilot program closed we were fortunate to have a new one open. The City of Kawartha Lakes approached the John Howard Society to establish a Community Integrated Care Hub, building on the lessons learned from the pilot and expanding the scope of supports. This partnership marked the beginning of a new chapter, bringing together the resources, vision, and community collaboration needed to create a permanent hub.

The Hub initially operated at 22 Peel Street in modest office spaces. Though limited in size and scope, that location became a lifeline for people seeking stability, safety, and connection. Clients came to access resources, receive support, and find non-judgmental care. Staff and volunteers worked tirelessly within those walls, but we knew from the start that the need far outweighed our capacity.

Recognizing the urgency, we began to imagine a larger, more integrated model, one that could meet people where they are and offer wrap-around services under one roof. That vision required both creativity and patience, as 22 Peel Street needed a complete renovation to transform into the permanent, purpose-built home we envisioned.

Since construction began, the Hub has relocated to a temporary site at 50 Mary Street, generously housed within the United Way Haliburton Kawartha Lakes location. This transition is not without its challenges, but it also reveals the depth of partnership and compassion in our community. At Mary Street, the Hub continues to provide essential supports, and the space allows us to maintain our commitment to dignity and accessibility while eagerly preparing for what’s to come.

The future of the Hub at 22 Peel Street is more than a physical expansion, it is a transformation in how we serve. The renovated Hub will be a 24/7 integrated care facility, designed to address the interconnected needs of individuals who are often left behind by traditional systems.

Our new home will include:

• Wrap-around supports: Housing support, addiction and harm reduction services, mental health care, skills development opportunities, and court support. These services will give clients a comprehensive network of care and stability.
• Clinical services: Accessible healthcare, wound care, and mental health support provided in a compassionate, low-barrier environment. These services will help address acute needs while creating pathways to longer-term care.
• Basic needs: Showers, washrooms, clothing, and laundry services, all essential for dignity and wellbeing. Importantly, the new space will also include an overnight program, providing safe sleeping areas for 12–15 individuals who would otherwise be on the street.
• Nutrition and community: A meal program supported by the Social Sustainability Fund and the United Way Haliburton Kawartha Lakes. This partnership ensures that every individual who comes to the Hub can count on a hot, nutritious meal and a welcoming atmosphere that fosters connection.

This entire program has been made possible through generous funding from the city, which has committed to addressing and preventing homelessness in our community. Their support, alongside our many community partners, underscores a shared belief that homelessness and related challenges are not just individual struggles but community-wide issues that require community-wide solutions.

At the John Howard Society, our mission has always been to deliver “effective, just, and humane responses to crime and its causes.” The Community Integrated Care Hub embodies this mission by recognizing that reducing harm, supporting healing, and addressing root causes like poverty, trauma, and lack of housing are critical steps in building safer and healthier communities.

We are deeply committed to person-centred care, meeting people where they are at, without judgment, and tailoring supports to their unique circumstances. This approach allows us to build trust, foster dignity, and create meaningful opportunities for change.

Our organization looks forward to continuing and expanding partnerships with other service providers, working together to address the gaps and barriers that affect the vulnerable population we serve. Collaboration will remain at the heart of our approach, because no single agency can solve these challenges alone.

As we prepare to reopen the permanent location at 22 Peel Street, I am filled with gratitude and optimism. The new Hub will not just respond to urgent needs, it will provide pathways to recovery, healing, and growth. It will stand as a beacon of what is possible when a community chooses compassion and action over stigma and division.

Equally important, we look forward to the opportunity to support the community in ways that positively impact both our housed and unhoused neighbours alike. Homelessness, addiction, and poverty affect us all, directly or indirectly, and when we come together to create solutions, everyone benefits.

The issues we face are not small. But with the opening of the renovated Hub, we are taking a powerful step toward solutions rooted in humanity. Every shower offered, every wound treated, every meal served, every person kept warm, and every conversation held brings us closer to a community where no one is left behind.

–Kristal Jones-Craighead is the Community Integrated Care Hub Director, John Howard Society of the Kawarthas