Strong support for new Black health hub in Peel

By Neil Armstrong

Members of the African, Black, and Caribbean (ABC) communities in Peel Region turned out in droves for the grand opening of the new location of the Black Health and Social Services (BHSS) Hub in Brampton, Ontario.

Located at 19 Rutherford Road South in Unit 2, the BHSS staff was on hand to welcome the community, give a tour of the space, do a meet-and-greet of the team behind it, and allow those in attendance to “experience an Africentric, culturally responsive model of care built around how our community thrives, connects, and heals.”

Ebuka Tabansi, Project and Integrated Operations Manager, said the BHSS Hub opened skeletally about six weeks ago but the official opening was to let community members know that they are ready to receive them in full force.

“It’s also a very significant moment for us because it’s been a project that has been on for the past three years average, and there’s been a lot of challenges and opportunities as well that we’ve been able to identify and leverage. For us, it’s very important to spread the word, especially for our community, to know how significant this initiative is for them.”

Tabansi said it is an opportunity for the community for generations to come. He noted the BHHS started as an initiative to deal with the inequities that African, Black and Caribbean people face in their communities, especially around healthcare.

“We are some of the most underserved and most affected as well by these inequities that we experience. We have situations where members of the community are not able to access healthcare that is customized for them,” he said, noting that they are exposed to a healthcare system that does not speak their language.

By “language,” he means the person’s context, culture, identity, and he noted that identity is dynamic for the African, Black and Caribbean communities. Tabansi said there are many layers and intersections.

Described as a safe space built by and for our community, the organizers noted that it is “built on personalized, client-centred care where you are the expert on your own health and wellness journey.” They offer services for primary care, mental health and addictions, and social services.

Before the official opening, Tabansi said the BHSS Hub operated as a hub-and-spoke model. It leveraged its partner agencies — Roots Community Services, LAMP Community Health Centre and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Peel Dufferin — to offer this initiative designed with the holistic health of the individual as the primary focus. 

For the past three years, the Hub delivered services at different locations, including the William Osler Centre and shelters. They also saw clients virtually because they did not have a permanent site.

Tabansi said they did not design the space themselves; it was done with input from the community — the Community Advisory Council provided feedback.

Members of the ABC community do not need a referral, a prior visit, or OHIP to access the services offered. 

BHSS Hub will accept donated books that celebrate the culture of the ABC community for its inhouse library. Soon, they will engage the community for artwork representative of their culture.

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