ARCH Guelph announces closure, citing no more funding from Ministry of Health

HIV/AIDS Resources and Community Health (ARCH) in Guelph have announced they will close their doors at the end of the month.

In a statement, the group said the Ministry of Health notified the group that they would no longer receive funding and that it came as a “big surprise” for them.

“We rely on this funding to support our leadership, women’s community work, harm reduction, Trans Support Programs, HIV support programs, and so much more,” said the statement.

The Guelph Community Health Centre (CHC) and the AIDS Committee of Cambridge Kitchener Waterloo and Area (ACCKWA) said they will teaming up to take over operations that were offered by ARCH Guelph.

ACCKWA said on their Facebook page that funding previously sent to ARCH will go to their group to allow for HIV services in Guelph as well as the rest of Waterloo Region. Guelph CHC will also be able to deliver harm reduction services.

The Ministry of Health provided a statement to CityNews 570:

“Following concerns and challenges with ARCH’s governance, their ability to provide stable services, and after failing to make necessary changes after a probation period, the ministry lost confidence in ARCH’s capacity to deliver services as outlined in the funding agreement and made the decision to re-distribute funding in order to support access to reliable services in the region.

Effective April 1, 2024, funding for these services has been transferred to:

Guelph Community Health Centre (Guelph CHC) – to continue the delivery of harm reduction services in Guelph. Guelph CHC will also continue to deliver HIV clinical services and gender affirming care services across Guelph and Waterloo regions AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener Waterloo and Area (ACCKWA) – to continue the delivery of HIV support services and HIV prevention education in the Guelph region.”