Ontario Invests $2.1 million to Strengthen Access to Health and Social Services in Downtown Windsor

Apr 17, 2026

Windsor, ON – [April 17, 2026] – A transformative $2,151,000 investment in community health is set to improve access to primary care for residents in Windsor’s downtown. A collaborative partnership between Windsor-Essex Community Health Centre (weCHC), Canadian Mental Health Association, Windsor-Essex County Branch (CMHA-WECB) and Essex County Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic has received funding from the Ministry of Health to implement a coordinated, community-based model of care for high-need populations

The initiative, which supports primary care as the foundation for our local high functioning health system will enhance access and entry into the health system, will focus on priority neighbourhoods and those experiencing some of the highest levels of poverty, housing instability, food insecurity and barriers to primary care in Windsor.

“Through our government’s Primary Care Action Plan, this $2.1 million investment in the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre will connect more than 6,000 people in Windsor-Essex to a family doctor or primary care team,” said Andrew Dowie, MPP for Windsor–Tecumseh. “We are proud to work alongside partners like the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex County Branch, the Essex Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, and the Windsor-Essex Ontario Health Team to expand access and deliver better care across our community.”

“This investment represents a critical step forward, in alignment with the Primary Care Act, 2025, to build a high-performing primary care system that is connected, convenient, inclusive, empowered and responsive,” said Nicole Sbrocca, CEO, CMHA-WECB. “By working together, we are strengthening a primary care and health ecosystem that meets people where they are, prioritizes prevention and connects individuals to timely care in the most appropriate setting.”

A New Model of Care

The initiative will establish a Coordinated Access and Attachment Network to connect unattached and high-need residents to primary care through a mobile, flexible, community-based model grounded in trust and accessibility. By expanding provider capacity, leveraging digital tools and working collaboratively with the Windsor Essex OHT and Primary Care Network, the program will strengthen access, coordination, and equitable attachment in Windsor’s highest-need communities.

The Network will pursue a dual-track strategy: engaging unattached residents not yet registered with Health Care Connect (HCC) through outreach and navigation support and drawing from the existing HCC waitlist in collaboration with WE OHT, the Primary Care Network and Ontario Health at Home. Through this approach, individuals will be able to access care even before being formally attached to a primary care provider, helping to build trust and improve long-term health outcomes.

Strength in Partnership

Each partner organization brings deep expertise in serving complex and underserved populations. Together, the collaboration will:

• Attach approximately 6,000 residents to primary care
• Expand after-hours access across clinic sites
• Deliver culturally and linguistically responsive care
• Integrate mental health, primary care, and social supports through a team-based model

“This investment allows weCHC and partners to expand our teams, create meaningful healthcare jobs, and—most importantly—ensure more individuals and families in our community are connected to accessible, community-centred primary care and the full range of services they need to thrive,” said Nancy Brockenshire, CEO, weCHC.  

“This initiative reflects the strength of collaboration.  Working alongside the Windsor-Essex Community Health Centre and the CMHA Health Centre has allowed us to develop a coordinated, community-driven approach to care. Together, we are strengthening access, improving continuity, and better supporting the overall health and well-being of the populations we serve,” said Laura Levesque, ED, PHCNP, Essex County Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic

Building a More Equitable Future The initiative aligns with Ontario Health Team priorities to deliver integrated, equitable, and patient-centred care. By improving coordination and increasing visibility of unattached individuals, the project aims to strengthen trust, engagement, and long-term health outcomes across Windsor’s most vulnerable communities.