Emergency Overdose Prevention Fund
The Emergency Overdose Prevention Fund is a set of short-term projects that support community-based organizations across Ontario as they adapt following the closure of many supervised consumption sites. These projects will meet immediate needs and generate evidence and learning to understand how to best deliver lifesaving harm reduction supports over the longer-term.
The projects on this page were identified by substance use health organizations across Ontario based on their individual activities and funding priorities. Explore the projects below and donate directly to the ones that align most with your interests.
To learn more about the overdose crisis, read our substance use health primer.
To speak to someone about this fund, contact info@catalystphilanthropy.ca.
TNG Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site Expands Hours and Capacity
Located in: Toronto
Funding need: $90,499
TNG’s Kensington Market overdose prevention site saw visits double after Toronto’s 2025 SCS closures and expects exponential growth after June 13. Funding sustains operations and adds 18 weekly hours.
Urgent - Toxic drug crisis support and advanced overdose training
Located in: Toronto
Funding need: $51,000
Mobile Overdose Response Initiative trains frontline workers, people who use drugs, and community members in advanced overdose response — covering mixed substances, stimulant toxicity, and inhalation-related overdoses — as site closures increase risk across Toronto.
Positive Living Niagara Expands Mobile Drug Checking Across the Region
Located in: St. Catharine’s
Funding need: $50,000
With its consumption site closing, Positive Living Niagara is expanding mobile drug checking across all 12 Niagara municipalities, helping people make informed decisions about a toxic, unpredictable supply.
Sandy Hill CHC Runs Peer-Led Community Clean-Up Program
Located in: Ottawa
Funding need: $7,208-$50,549
Sandy Hill CHC’s peer-led clean-up program employs people who use drugs to remove drug waste from public spaces, building work skills and community safety.
$10,000 has been raised so far, thank you for your support!
YWCA Hamilton Provides a Safer Use Site for Women and Gender-Diverse People
Located in: Hamilton
Funding need: $80,000
Hamilton’s only gender-specific safer use site serves 22 women and gender-diverse people daily, responding to 127 drug poisonings with zero fatalities in 2025-26. Bridge funding needed to survive past June.
Ottawa Inner City Health Deploys Peer Workers for Mobile Overdose Response
Located in: Ottawa
Funding need: $81,900
When Ottawa’s 24/7 supervised consumption site loses funding June 13, trained peer workers will patrol known drug use areas to conduct mobile overdose response.
Parkdale Queen West CHC & Partners Deliver Mobile Overdose Prevention in the Downtown Core
Located in: Toronto
Funding need: $67,685
Three Toronto organizations are collaborating to fill overdose prevention gaps left by SCS closures – deploying mobile outreach, oxygen response, and evening/weekend support across the downtown core.
This project has been fully funded, thank you for your support!
Street Health Expands Service Capacity to Meet Increased Demand
Located in: Toronto
Funding need: $127,050
Street Health’s overdose prevention site has seen a 16% visit increase and 8x surge in community overdose calls since Toronto SCS closures. Funding doubles booth capacity and extends evening hours.
This project has been fully funded, thank you for your support!
Casey House Expands Services During Summer and Pride Toronto
Located in: Toronto
Funding need: $58,635
Casey House is expanding supervised consumption hours, peer support, and harm reduction supplies during summer and Pride season – responding to surging demand from Toronto SCS closures.
This project has been fully funded, thank you for your support!