‘I encourage individuals to not bounce to conclusions but. Let’s take care of the info,’ ward councillor says of potential homelessness and dependancy restoration remedy (HART) facility
A pamphlet making the rounds in a north-end Barrie neighbourhood is elevating considerations about the County of Simcoe probably buying property on Blake Avenue because the potential website for a homelessness and dependancy restoration remedy (HART) hub.
The pamphlet suggests there’s a “pending website choice” at 429 and 445 Blake St., close to Penetanguishene Highway, for use for these services, which might additionally embrace the potential relocation of the county’s non permanent Rose Avenue shelter.
The two.8-acre property, which nonetheless had a big ‘on the market’ signal out entrance as of Wednesday afternoon, is the previous residence to the Coates Positive Vehicles dealership and had been listed for $6.75 million. Nevertheless, the net itemizing for the property is not accessible.
The objective of the HART hubs, based on the provincial authorities, is to “serve the community’s complex service needs, including homelessness, substance use and mental health concerns.”
Along with providing providers to assist the remedy and restoration of people with wants regarding psychological well being, dependancy, main care, employment and social providers, the HART hubs may also supply a direct path to supportive housing.
The neighbourhood pamphlet says there’s been a “troubling absence of oversight” across the plan.
“This website isn’t even well-suited for the very clientele the power goals to serve,” it says. “Though it’s near the hospital (Royal Victoria Regional Well being Centre), it lacks providers (and) it’s on the sting of Barrie, removed from the important thing assets.”
Coun. Clare Riepma, who represents Ward 1 on Barrie metropolis council, says that though he didn’t personally obtain one of many pamphlets at his door, one in every of his constituents did move alongside a duplicate.
Coun. Clare Riepma represents Ward 1 in Barrie. | Picture provided
As of proper now, although, he mentioned there was nothing confirmed about when — or the place — such services might be situated.
“We have a homelessness and drug problem in the city of Barrie,” mentioned Riepma, noting the province is giving cash for a number of potential HART hubs. “The County of Simcoe is submitting an software for that cash. We don’t know whether or not the County of Simcoe shall be profitable … and thus far, the county has mentioned nothing about the place, or if, one in every of these could be situated.
“Something that has to do with speculating about the place these is perhaps, is simply that — hypothesis,” he added.
Riepma mentioned the pamphlet has undoubtedly stirred up some considerations from residents in his east-end ward, however he’s asking them to not get too far forward of themselves.
“It’s one one who has jumped to some conclusion,” he mentioned. “I’ve responded to fairly just a few of these of us who’ve despatched their considerations to me and instructed them … the county goes to use for funding from the province, (which) just isn’t assured. The county has made no dedication with respect to the place it’s going to be situated. It might be in Bradford … however we hope we are going to get it in Barrie, as a result of we most likely have extra of the issue than anyone else.
“This is something the county is doing and we need to hear from the county on what they are planning,” the councillor added. “Certainly, we haven’t heard anything from the county and this is all pure speculation.”
Mina Fayez-Bahgat, the county’s normal supervisor of social and neighborhood providers, mentioned it is working to verify new location particulars associated to the modular buildings at present situated on the Rose Avenue property. He mentioned they’ll launch extra info with to public concerning the non permanent modular buildings and their non permanent use within the coming weeks, as part of the county’s upcoming winter response and reasonably priced supportive housing technique.
As for the HART hub submission, Fayez-Bahgat mentioned the brand new provincial program is in line with the county’s technique for addressing homelessness within the area.
“Since launching our 10-point homelessness prevention technique in July 2023, the county has been making vital investments and enhancements to social and neighborhood providers applications in Barrie and throughout the area,” he said in an e mail to BarrieToday.
“By the county’s 10-point homelessness prevention technique, two of the pillars we’ve got created embrace bettering security and well-being and creating simpler methods to entry providers for these experiencing homelessness,” Fayez-Bahgat added.
The county has not but utilized and is within the strategy of creating an software, famous Fayez-Bahgat, including they hope to submit the applying Friday.
“The location(s) for this project are not yet fully determined,” he mentioned.
Riepma mentioned that regardless of the place both facility finally ends up being situated, he anticipates there shall be considerations.
“They need to be situated correctly and far relies on the way it’s operated,” he mentioned. “Don’t neglect that this HART hub is a rehabilitation facility with transitional housing, so there’s an terrible lot of assist concerned in it and I believe all of it relies on the way it’s run.
The County of Simcoe’s normal supervisor of social and neighborhood providers Mina Fayez-Bahgat is proven in a file picture. | Jessica Owen/CollingwoodToday
“I might anticipate it will be operated very professionally,” Riepma added. “I think the concern is that this would end up being a shelter. We tend not to have good experiences with shelters in the downtown area, (but) this is far from a shelter. I think the whole experience would be quite different.”
Although such services could also be wanted in a neighborhood, the Ward 1 councillor mentioned he can “respect” that some individuals might not need to see them situated of their neighbourhood.
“I believe all of it has to do with the place it’s situated. If it’s situated correctly and operated correctly, I believe the neighborhood could be receptive to it. Clearly, if it isn’t, there shall be plenty of dialogue,” Riepma mentioned.
Relying on the place both of the services find yourself, there might be the necessity for rezoning, added Riepma, which might then embrace neighborhood involvement and will take upwards of a yr to perform.
“I encourage people not to jump to conclusions yet. Let’s deal with the facts and the fact is the county is the one that is spearheading this, not the city,” he said. “The other fact is they’re applying for the money, but they haven’t gotten in. If they haven’t gotten the money, then there’s nothing going to happen.”
A public neighbourhood assembly was scheduled for Oct. 15, nonetheless, based on the town’s web site, it was cancelled as a result of the applicant was not continuing with the proposal for 445 Blake St.
The province has mentioned it is going to make investments $378 million through the subsequent three years to assist the creation of 19 HART hubs — 10 of that are being applied via a name for proposals now.
The ministry will fund these 10 new hubs via a price range of $6.3 million per yr, per hub, starting 2025-26 to 2027-28, and with $1.8 million per hub to assist one-time startup and implementation prices.
