‘There’s always more that can be done, but it’s encouraging to see a drop in numbers. For years, we’ve seen them rise, so this is a nice change,’ says the deputy mayor.
City officials have analyzed the homeless encampments in Barrie and the people living there, and they report that things are looking better.
During an executive committee meeting on Wednesday, councillors learned that as of Oct. 27, based on data from the County of Simcoe, there were 607 active homeless individuals connected to Barrie – with 54 identified as residing in Barrie encampments.
“We’re seeing some really positive data coming out right now,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall. “I believe that over time we’ll reach a point where we feel like we have control over the situation.”
Nuttall mentioned that on Sept. 8 – just before Barrie declared a state of emergency due to the homeless encampments – there were up to 693 active homeless individuals linked to Barrie.
The current number stands at 607 as of Monday, according to the County of Simcoe’s Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS).
“This is great progress,” said Deputy Mayor Robert Thomson. “There’s always more work to do, but it’s good to see a decrease when we’ve been used to increases for so long.”
Jeff Schmidt, the city’s general manager of community and corporate services, provided details on those 607 individuals based on HIFIS data.
He noted that 166 people are in shelters, 47 are couch surfing, 340 are enrolled in the county’s temporary family shelter program, and 54 are living in encampments.
Schmidt explained that the County of Simcoe and the City of Barrie have slightly different definitions for what constitutes an encampment.
“The county defines encampments as outdoor structures being actively used overnight by two or more individuals experiencing homelessness. In contrast, the city considers an encampment as any single tent or structure on property,” he stated.
As of Oct. 29 under the emergency order, Schmidt indicated that both the city and county have dealt with over 20 encampments within city limits.
“Aside from major sites like Mulcaster (Street), Bradford Street and Victoria Street, most sites have either been found abandoned after investigation or consist only of debris needing cleanup,” he added.
“While we’re addressing encampments here, we’re also focusing on helping people,” said Coun. Clare Riepma.
The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) issued an order on Aug. 8 under the Environmental Protection Act mandating the closure of Barrie’s Victoria Street homeless encampment near Dyments Creek.
A ministry official told Barrie Today that cleanup must be completed by Oct. 31, 2025 – which is Friday.
The MECP lacks authority to prevent individuals from occupying an encampment.
An Ontario Superior Court ruling has declared bylaws banning homeless encampments from municipal property unconstitutional if no indoor shelter is available.
The Victoria Street location was also involved in a double-homicide investigation conducted by police in Barrie.
No updates were given regarding Audrey Milligan Park and Pond – one of Barrie’s oldest homeless spots – estimated to host around 45-60 individuals near Perry and Boys streets.
The County of Simcoe oversees efforts supporting homeless individuals throughout the region including Barrie; these initiatives involve both funding support and various programs.
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