A New Addictions Centre Embracing Connected Care

​Photo caption: Lounge room of the new live-in addictions treatment centre in Barrie​. 

Driven by a bold vision to create integrated, patient-centred care for individuals living with​ addiction, mental illness, and housing insecurity, ​Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), in partnership with the HART of Simcoe County, has officially opened the region’s first publicly funded, co-ed live-in addictions treatment centre in Barrie.​

The new 21-day program offers a safe and supportive environment for up to 12 clients at a time, combining structured daily programming, individual and group counselling, life skills development, mindfulness, and recreational therapy. Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of social workers, addiction counsellors, a recreation therapist and program supervisor, all focused on person-centred care rooted in safety, dignity and recovery.

“Addiction recovery is not a straight path, and it’s not something people should have to navigate alone,” says Gail Hunt, RVH President and CEO. “This program reflects our commitment to delivering connected, community-based care that meets people where they are and ensures they have the right care in the right place.”

Closing the Gaps in Care

In fiscal year 2024/25, more than 94,000 people came to RVH’s Emergency Department. Of those, over 5,800 visits were related to mental health and addictions, and nearly 530 of those patients had no fixed address. These numbers underscore the reality that without stable housing and sustained support, recovery is often out of reach.

Last year, RVH’s Withdrawal Management Services saw more than 700 admissions, with nearly half being repeat visits. That is not a failure of the individuals — it’s a clear signal that the system can do more to provide what’s needed between emergency intervention and long-term recovery.

“This live-in program helps fill that gap,” says Brandon Lewicki, Operations Director of RVH’s Mental Health and Addictions Program. “It offers a person-centred, accessible, safe and low-barrier environment, supported by skilled professionals and grounded in compassion.”

The program is not a stand-alone service. It is the next step in a true continuum of care that stretches from crisis response in RVH’s Emergency Department, to Withdrawal Management, to RAAM (Rapid Access Addiction Medicine) clinics, to longer-term treatment and community supports.

Photo caption: Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, in partnership with the HART of Simcoe County, welcomed municipal, provincial and federal officials to celebrate the opening of the region’s first publicly funded, co-ed live-in addictions treatment centre. (Left to right) Dana Naylor, Vice President, Clinical, Regional Vice President, Cancer Services, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario); Brian Irving, Manager, Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinics and Withdrawal Management Services, RVH; Brandon Lewicki, Operations Director, Mental Health and Addictions Program, RVH; Mina Fayez-Bahgat, General Manager, Social and Community Services, County of Simcoe; Andrea Khanjin, MPP Barrie–Innisfil; Gail Hunt, President and Chief Executive Officer, RVH; Doug Downey, MPP Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte; Basil Clarke, Warden, County of Simcoe; Ann-Marie Kungl Baker, Ward 3 Councillor, City of Barrie; and Doug Shipley, MP for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte.    

Care Designed Around People, Not Systems

Unlike traditional outpatient models, live-in treatment provides a comprehensive, immersive environment that is particularly vital for individuals without stable housing. Each client completes a 24-hour stabilization period before entering the program, ensuring they are safe, supported, and ready to fully engage in treatment.

“What makes this program unique is not just the clinical approach, but its connection to a much broader network of services — RVH’s RAAM clinics, primary care, Indigenous Patient Navigation, housing support, and more — many located just a few blocks away,” says Lewicki.

He adds: “Everyone has a role to play. Addiction, mental health, and homelessness are deeply interconnected. Unless people have continued support, including housing, they return to the same cycle. This model shows what can happen when organizations come together to design care around the person, not the system.”

Already, the centre has welcomed its first group of clients, and the response has been profound. One client shared that they came in lost, lonely and broken, and now feel a restored sense of hope and optimism. Others have said the program has literally saved their life.

The HART of Simcoe County

The HART (Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment) of Simcoe County is a regional network of care teams providing housing, treatment, and stability for individuals with urgent needs. The concept of HART hubs was introduced by the Ontario government in January 2025, with funding to create local models that integrate health, housing, and social supports. Officially launched in June 2026, the HART of Simcoe County has quickly become a leader in reimagining how care can be delivered for people facing the intersecting challenges of homelessness, addiction, and mental illness.

The model emphasizes multiple access points and pathways to ensure care is person-centred, accessible, safe, and low barrier. RVH plays a critical role within this network, and is responsible for delivering Withdrawal Management, Pre-Treatment, and Live-In Addictions Treatment services.

“This is what exceptional local care can look like — when hospitals, community partners, housing agencies, and primary care work together,” says Lewicki. “When we integrate services and walk alongside clients with empathy and respect, recovery becomes possible.”

The Bigger Picture: RVH’s Mental Health and Addictions Program

The live-in centre is the latest addition to RVH’s Mental Health and Addictions Program, which provides a full continuum of inpatient, outpatient, community and crisis services. The program includes a 36-bed adult inpatient unit, an eight-bed child and youth inpatient unit, adult and child and youth mental health day programs, outpatient psychiatry, withdrawal management, the Care and Treatment Education Program (CTEP) classroom in partnership with the Simcoe County District School Board, and more. The program serves residents from across Simcoe Muskoka, with addictions services extending regionally through four RAAM clinics located in Barrie, Orillia, Wasaga Beach, and Midland.

In 2024/25 alone, the program supported more than 11,000 adult inpatient days, nearly 1,500 child and youth inpatient days, 2,700 crisis visits, and more than 6,300 RAAM visits.

Guided by RVH’s Vitally You strategic plan, the program reflects the hospital’s commitment to advancing care for the mind, body, and spirit. By working across organizations and building new, integrated models of care, RVH is helping ensure people across Simcoe Muskoka can access the right care in the right place, at the right time.

“This work is about more than programs or beds — it’s about people,” says Lewicki. “Empathy is at the core of what we do. None of us are exempt from the possibility of facing challenges like losing a home, struggling with mental health, or living with addiction. When we meet people with compassion and build a system that supports them at every step, we give them a real chance to heal and rebuild.”​