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Who we are

Our care model

We take a team-based and community-first approach to health and well-being, delivering care that’s responsive, inclusive, and rooted in real life needs of the people we serve, many of whom are complex. As a Community Health Centre (CHC), we work alongside people and partners to address the social factors that impact health, from food security to social connection.

What is a Community Health Centre and why does it matter?

Community Health Centres (CHCs) aren’t just walk-in clinics. We’re an essential part of Ontario’s primary care system, offering connected, high-quality medical care, chronic disease management, substance use care, and social services – all under one roof – with a special focus on people who face systemic barriers to care. At SRCHC, that means easy access, multilingual programs, and integrated supports like mental health counselling, physiotherapy, chiropody, harm reduction, and social connections.

What makes CHCs unique is that we don’t just respond to illness, we work upstream. We prevent health issues before they start, reduce strain on hospitals and emergency services, and support long-term outcomes for individuals and communities alike. It’s a model built as a foundation for equity, stronger connections, and compassionate care that meets people where they are.

What makes our model unique

Team-based care

Clients are supported by an integrated, inter-professional team that may include doctors, nurse practitioners, midwives, nurses, social workers, chiropodists, health promoters, dietitians, respiratory therapists and other professionals, working together to meet people’s diverse, and often complex, needs.

Holistic approach

We see the full picture. Our programs and services support improving physical health, food security, community connection, and more.

Equity-first

We prioritize those who face the most systemic barriers: whether related to poverty, racism, colonialism, language, or stigma.

Prevention-focused

We offer education, screenings, and early interventions to reduce the need for emergency or hospital-based care, and to improve health outcomes over time.

Accessible to all

Most of our programs are free. We welcome people with or without health cards or primary care providers, and offer support in multiple languages.

Why it matters

Community Health Centres like ours don’t just provide high quality, compassionate care – we strengthen the health care system, improving access for everyone. By addressing people’s social and health needs early, across the continuum of care and directly in the diverse communities where people live, we reduce strain on emergency rooms, hospitals, and other acute care services.

  • Our programs blend health care with community supports, like group counselling or diabetes education.
  • Many would otherwise delay care or go to the ER.
  • We offer ongoing support, not one-time visits – building trust and lasting impact.
  • Our approach is rooted in evidence and equity.

15,402

clients came to us last year for help with things like medical care, mental health and substance use support, food, and social connections.

50%

of our clients live on less than $40,000 per year.

97%

of our clients report feeling comfortable and welcomed at SRCHC.

How you can support this model of care

Public

Read our stories, get involved locally, or simply learn more about how community health centres are making a difference in Ontario.
Visit our media centre

Potential partners

Work with us to expand access, pilot new ideas, or co-deliver programs that address community needs.
See how we collaborate in the community

Policymakers

Support funding, equity-focused strategies, and policy that strengthen the community health centre model.
Explore data and impact