The Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families has signed onto a joint letter urging the Ontario government to reconsider the decision to defund the remaining provincially funded supervised consumption services. By adding our name, we join organizations from across the province advocating for the continuation of evidence-based, life-saving supports.
The letter outlines the extensive body of research demonstrating that supervised consumption services reduce overdose deaths, prevent the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C, and lessen pressure on first responders, emergency departments, and social services. These sites also help reduce public drug use and provide connections to health care, housing, and other community supports.
The eight sites facing closure in June 2026 have collectively served more than 120,000 unique individuals and reversed over 15,000 overdoses. The letter also references data following previous closures, which showed significant increases in emergency medical service calls and emergency department visits related to opioid overdoses, along with more deaths occurring in private residences and outdoor settings.
Supervised consumption services are highlighted as an essential part of a broader continuum of care. They offer low-barrier access to emergency support and help build trusted relationships between service providers and people who use drugs. These relationships often serve as a pathway to additional supports, including primary health care, mental health services, and addiction treatment when individuals are ready. This is particularly important given the long wait times that can exist for publicly funded treatment options and the increased risk of overdose during transitions in care.
The letter also notes that defunding these services would disproportionately affect people experiencing homelessness, those living in extreme poverty, and individuals who use criminalized substances. Signatories are calling for policies grounded in evidence and for the continuation and expansion of services that help keep people alive and connected to care.
By signing this letter, the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families is reaffirming its commitment to harm reduction, evidence-based practice, and supporting the health and dignity of the communities we serve.
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