Hamilton mental health and addiction services face budget cuts

Hamilton’s two city-funded mental health and addiction services are facing budget cuts, reducing staffing levels.

The city council has approved a budget that will stop funding for the alcohol, drug, and gambling services and community mental health promotion – creating a total shortfall of $130,000.

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The services will have to cut the equivalent of 1.25 full time jobs. This will cause fewer appointments to be available for individuals in need of mental health and addiction services.

The city’s board of health was trying to find alternative funding for the programs, but came up short, and council has run out of time to continue searching. This comes as the board says people in Hamilton are already seeing year-long wait times.

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