Bluewater Health has identified the former Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School (SCITS) as the preferred location for 30 transitional recovery beds tied to the Housing and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub.
The hospital is working with SCITS owner Mohit Gupta to initiate a rezoning application with the City of Sarnia, a key step in advancing the proposed site. If approved, the facility would support individuals transitioning from withdrawal management and stabilization programs, offering up to 18 months of structured recovery support.
“This is an important step forward in ensuring people struggling with addiction have access to the right care at the right time,” said Bluewater Health President and CEO Paula Reaume-Zimmer.
The addition of long-term recovery beds is intended to fill a known gap in local addiction services, helping people maintain sobriety after short-term treatment. Patients currently completing 30-day programs at Bluewater Health’s Ryan’s House often face the challenge of continuing recovery without stable housing or ongoing support.
Gupta, who acquired the SCITS property following its closure, said the project gives the historic site a renewed purpose.
“SCITS has been an important part of this community for decades, and I’m excited to see it repurposed in a way that directly helps people in need,” he said.
The proposed facility is one component of the Lambton HART Hub, a three-year demonstration project funded by the Ontario government and delivered in partnership with Bluewater Health, Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent, the County of Lambton, North Lambton Community Health Centre, and the Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team.
The broader HART initiative includes additional supportive housing units, outpatient services, and mobile care outreach, aimed at improving access to mental health, addiction, and housing supports in the region.
No opening date for the SCITS-based recovery beds has been confirmed, as the rezoning process is still underway.
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