At an announcement on Wednesday afternoon at the city’s social services hub at 230 Talbot Street, St. Thomas was the recipient of over $640,000 in funding to tackle what was referred to as “an all-hands-on-deck” opioid crisis.

The investment, over two years through Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment fund, will support community-led initiatives that expand access to mental health, substance use, and addiction services.

It will also enhance local service capacity and improve culturally safe support for those most affected.

Deanna Huggett, Executive Director of the Elgin Ontario Health Team, stressed the funding builds on an already existing “strong foundation to further reduce barriers to care.”