The $40,000 question is whether Barrie and the County of Simcoe can agree to split that amount to fund and staff an indoor warming centre in the city’s downtown for the next three months.
Coun. Natalie Harris has said she will put a motion to that effect on Monday night’s general committee agenda.
“I’m just hoping that they (the county) will appreciate the reasoning why we’re coming forward with this motion and really see the urgency and why we need the warming centre,” she said Sunday, after a makeshift warming centre on Dunlop Street East was dismantled that morning following a complaint to city police.
“I get the police are doing their job, right, but at the same time it’s really hard to see a lot of our homeless walk away, hoping they were going to go inside and get warm right now,” Harris said as the falling snow began blowing sideways. “And it’s very important for the public to know that not everybody can access the shelter system and sometimes they won’t because that’s their choice.
“We still need the warming centre.”
Homelessness services and prevention are the County of Simcoe’s responsibility in Barrie. The county is responsible for social housing-related services within Barrie, including funding. The city does not directly fund the Busby Centre, Salvation Army, Elizabeth Fry Society, or Youth Haven.
Coun. Ann-Marie Kungl, Barrie’s representative on the county’s affordable housing advisory committee, said Sunday that a Barrie warming centre, beyond the shelter services, has not been discussed at its recent meetings.
“A representative from the Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness is on the committee and provides us with updates on pressures related to the shelter system in and outside of Barrie,” Kungl said.
Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman said Saturday that his most recent information is that an all-weather, overnight warming centre should be available early this coming week.
“With homeless services being largely left to charities in Ontario, it’s only because of their incredible work that more people aren’t at risk,” he said. “During the toughest part of the pandemic and coldest part of the year, more temporary and immediate help such as warming is needed.
“Everyone from county and city staff to charities to concerned citizens are working on this constantly," the mayor added. "We are all just trying to keep everyone safe. It’s a difficult situation.”
Greg Bishop, the county’s general manager of social and community services, told Barrie councillors during budget talks in late November that the County of Simcoe had no current plans to look after Barrie’s homeless outside its shelter system. Instead, its work had been maximizing the capacity within the existing system.
County staff meet regularly with shelter officials, largely to support the motel model of shelter which accommodates increased numbers of homeless and maintains public health safety measures due to the pandemic, Bishop said. Discussions had led to a couple of warming drop-in and respite opportunities for those not sheltered.
Harris said the county had not changed its position on looking after Barrie’s homeless outside its shelter system as of late last year.
And circumstances have changed again.
“A year ago or so, people who wanted to stay warm and get out of the cold could have sat in a Tim Hortons or went somewhere that was open prior to COVID-19,” she said. “Because that’s not the case now, we need a warming centre outside of the shelter services funded by the County of Simcoe.
“A warming centre does that — just keeps people warm. It does not provide any services or offer any other supports. And sometimes that is exactly what our unhoused are looking for,” Harris said. “Maybe they aren’t ready to access the services that are provided to them. And many have had bad experiences in the shelter service for one reason or another. It is a very complicated journey to be homeless and most often these individuals are dealing with compounding factors such as mental illness and addiction. Sometimes, they simply want to just stay warm.”
The Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness enumeration of November, 2020 showed 563 people, 82 per cent of them single, were experiencing homelessness — and that 49 per cent, or 276 people, were in Barrie.
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The following are resources that can be utilized by people who are homeless in Barrie and need shelter or other services:
Central Shelter Access Intake Line — 705-828-3795
Centralized Shelter Access is a support for individuals and families experiencing homelessness who require immediate emergency shelter. This winter pilot program includes co-ordinated shelter support/placement with family shelters, shelters for single female identified and single men identified, gender fluid individuals and youth 16 years and older. This is a triage, access and diversion program with collaborating partners of Salvation Army Barrie Bayside Mission, Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka, Youth Haven and Busby Centre. For those who do not have access to a phone, connect with Busby Detour Outreach Team.
Sheltering agencies can also be contacted directly.
Barrie Hotel Shelter Program – Travelodge location operates 24/7
Busby Intake Line: 705-790-7028
Elizabeth Fry Society Intake Line: 705-715-1052
The Busby Centre – Outreach Teams
Busby's Detour Street Outreach Team provides services seven days a week with hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This team can be reached at 705-627-7086, and is connecting with people experiencing unsheltered homelessness through the city of Barrie and area. The team provides brief service housing and harm reduction support as well as more intense case manage support for those
who are not connected to other supports. They also facilitate medical, corrections and other support appointments virtually out in the community.
The Outreach Van program is providing service daily from 1-9 p.m. The team can be reached at 705-790-5654. Daily stops; Spirit Catcher at 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m. at the CMHA at 15 Bradford St. at 5:30 p.m., south-end stop in the parking lot at northeast corner of Bryne Drive and Caplan Avenue (Old Sears) at 7 p.m., and in the front parking lot of 88 Mulcaster St., at 7:50 p.m. The rest of the time is by appointment.
This team serves individuals and families who are experiencing, or at risk of homelessness. Accessible items include; food, hygiene supplies, seasonal clothing, bedding and linens, tents, tarps, harm reduction supplies, pet food, etc.
Drop In/Warming Centre Programs and Services
88 Mulcaster St. Centre — Main line: 705-739-6916
The Busby Centre HUB at 88 Mulcaster St. is be open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for breakfast-to-go items and general support, hygiene supplies, seasonal clothing, harm reduction supplies, as well as access to short-term warming
space, free showers, and washrooms. This program is also an access point to facilitate medical, corrections and other support appointments virtually.
Salvation Army Barrie Bayside Mission Centre
Main Line: 705-728-3737
Facility provides shelter to men (19+) and families (with children 18 & under in their care). They are a housing focused shelter and work with the individual to find suitable housing. In all situation, diversion from shelter program is attempted first. Health care services (paramedics, CMHA, etc) are provided on site for all men in the shelter. Referrals are made for families for any of their health care needs. Each participant is assigned a caseworker and housing access worker to assist in finding suitable housing.
Intake for men – based on available beds, first come-first serve – no waiting list.
Intake for families – call 705-728-3737, ext. 233, to complete shelter diversion, and speak to caseworker. If diversion can’t be done, then intake is either completed or the family put on the waiting list (and connected to services).
Youth Haven
22 Wellington St. E., Barrie — 705-739-7616
Youth Haven provides emergency housing and individualized wrap-around supports to youths between the ages of 16-24. Youth Haven is staffed 24 hours, 365 days a year for any youth who needs assistance. Youth Haven’s house currently features 13 beds that can safely shelter anyone facing homelessness and in need of shelter.
Youth Haven Transitional Housing, 46 Toronto St., Barrie 705-739-7686
In addition to the emergency shelter, Youth Haven provides a Transitional Housing Program offering 11 off-site transitional beds to youth who may require extra time and skill development to become successful adults in the community. Their transitional housing program helps young people in-need develop real life skills in a supportive and caring environment, giving them the tools needed to succeed in their own home.
Barrie-area resource numbers:
Busby main line: 705-739-6916
Detour Walking Outreach: 705-627-7086
Mobile Van Outreach: 705-790-5654
Canadian Mental Health Association: 705-726-5033
Empower Simcoe Housing Resources: 705-739-0485
Barrie Shelter Numbers:
Busby Shelter intake 705-790-7028
Elizabeth Fry (Shelter for women) 705-715-1052
Youth Haven (Shelter for under 24 yrs old) 705-739-7616
Salvation Army (Shelter for men and families) 705-728-3737
Women and Children’s Shelter 705-728-2544
