Evaluating SubHub: Client-Centred Care Making a Difference
- CCBR
- Jul 16
- 2 min read
The Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR) partnered with the Inner City Family Health Team (ICFHT) to evaluate SubHub — a downtown Toronto drop-in clinic that provides low-barrier, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care for people who use drugs and are experiencing homelessness.
SubHub’s interdisciplinary team provides addictions medicine alongside wrap-around services such as mental health supports, counselling, case management, and peer health navigation five-days a week.
What we did:
Guided by a community-based approach, the evaluation was designed and carried out in collaboration with SubHub clients, staff, peer health navigators. A steering committee also provided guidance on project design. We used surveys, interviews, focus groups, and a client roundtable to ensure community voices shaped the findings and recommendations.
What we found:
Clients feel SubHub offers lifesaving, compassionate, and non-judgmental care.
Many reported better mental and physical health, safer substance use, greater social connection, and a renewed trust in the healthcare system.
Access to wrap-around supports and housing is linked to significantly improved mental health.
Flexible, on-site services and dedicated staff distinguish SubHub from other programs and encouraged greater engagement with care.
Healthcare providers are building expertise in harm reduction, refining clinic practices, and strengthening their commitment to client-centered care.
The evaluation recommends building on SubHub’s strengths by continuing to expand low-barrier, wrap-around supports that strengthen housing stability and mental well-being for people navigating substance use and homelessness in downtown Toronto.
CCBR worked with Subhub to produce a formal report, a digital visual summary of the findings, and a client-focused evaluation findings booklet. We also shared results at a client roundtable and through two presentations with physicians and staff.
What next?
With the success of this first phase of evaluation, CCBR and ICFHT have extended their partnership into a second phase, with the goal of sustainably transferring ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the SubHub program into ICFHT’s hands.
