Every year, thousands of Halton residents reach out for help during a mental health crisis.
Through the Halton Region Community Investment Fund (HRCIF) and our Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, we’re working with local partners to ensure residents get the right support when they need it most.
From 911 calls to direct care and collaboration, we’re investing in initiatives that strengthen how our community responds.
Here are some of the ways we’ve invested in mental health in 2025:
Re-directing Mental Health Calls – $124,799 over one year
Every year, 911 operators at Halton Regional Police Service (external lin) receive thousands of calls related to mental health, but not all require a police or emergency response.
Through investments in call diversion, we’re supporting a new model that allows low-risk 911 mental health callers the option of being transferred directly to a trained CMHA mental health professional in Halton for crisis intervention, de-escalation, support and referrals.
This approach eases pressure on 911 operators and frontline officers, while ensuring residents in crisis connect to the right care faster.
Community Response Team – $347,864 over two years
We’re supporting a pilot Community Response Team, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association – Halton Branch (CMHA Halton) (external link) and Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) (external link) to enhance crisis response in the community.
This initiative supports Halton residents aged 16 and older who are experiencing mental health or addictions crisis. Through a co-response model, a civilian-led team provides an alternative to police involvement for lower-risk situations, while higher-risk situations continue to receive support from a partnership between HRPS and CMHA. By delivering timely crisis intervention and connecting individuals to ongoing community supports, the initiative helps residents stabilize safely and access the care they need.
Halton Crisis Continuum – $126,000 over two years
The Halton Crisis Continuum is a community action table under Halton’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan designed to simplify access to crisis services and improve coordination between agencies. The project represents a significant collaborative effort among 14 organizations in Halton region and is co-chaired by CMHA Halton and the Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK).
With this investment, we’re helping local partners build a seamless, integrated system that connects residents of all ages to timely, community-based mental health supports.
This initiative will make it easier for residents to know where to turn, reducing duplication and ensuring people continue to get timely, ongoing support.
Investing in Community Impact
The Halton Region Community Investment Fund (HRCIF) supports a wide range of community-led initiatives that enhance the health, safety and well-being of residents.
In 2025 alone, HRCIF has invested $5.2 illion to support over 78 vital community programs across Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills.
Through collaboration and continued investment, we’re committed to building a stronger, healthier and more resilient community, together.
Learn more
- Watch our video (YouTube video): See how Halton and our partners are transforming the way we respond to mental health crises.
- Read our 2025 Impact Report (PDF file): Discover how investments through the Halton Region Community Investment Fund are improving health, safety and well-being across our community.
- Learn more about our ongoing commitment to community, safety and well-being at halton.ca.