Much like other Canadian municipalities, Barrie has seen an increase in homeless encampments throughout the city. These encampments pose safety risks for both those living in tents and the families, seniors and businesses who live, work and play in Barrie. The City of Barrie is committed to ensuring safe, welcoming public spaces while supporting vulnerable residents through coordinated services provided by the County of Simcoe. This page provides real-time updates and insights into how the City is addressing homelessness and encampments alongside our community partners.
Aligned with City Council’s strategic plan priorities, the City is advancing initiatives to promote community and public safety in accordance with the approved Community Safety & Well-Being Plan.
In December 2025, a telephone poll was conducted to gather opinions from residents on the City’s approach to addressing homelessness and encampments, and the City’s investments in community safety. A February 4, 2026 memo to Council outlines the survey details and results.
Homeless Count
While daily fluctuations in counts limit our ability to fully capture the scope of homelessness, these counts remain a vital source of information offering insights and evolving trends of the homeless population.
According to data compiled from the City of Barrie and the County of Simcoe’s Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS):
- 701 individuals identify as homeless in Barrie, as of March 30, 2026.
- There are two known encampments* located on municipally-owned land throughout Barrie, as of March 31, 2026.
- 73 individuals successfully transitioned from encampments to alternate shelter options, secured permanent housing or other resources, as of January 6, 2026.
- 111 encampments have been addressed across the city between September 9, 2025, (when the State of Emergency was declared) and March 31, 2026. They have been addressed through coordinated outreach efforts, identification as abandoned sites, or locations where clean-up efforts are required or currently in progress.
*The City of Barrie classifies an encampment as one tent or structure on a property, while the County of Simcoe defines an encampment as outdoor structures actively used overnight by two or more individuals experiencing homelessness.
Encampment Progress
We are actively monitoring and addressing encampments across Barrie. We’ve been successful in collaboration with the County of Simcoe to address encampments on City-owned lands, including parks, and public spaces making them welcoming for all.
Locations where encampments have been successfully addressed and individuals have been offered and/or connected with vital resources:
| Encampment Location | Date Addressed |
|---|---|
| Queens Park | June 2023 |
| Berczy Park | June 2024 |
| Mulcaster Street | September 2025 |
| Bradford Street | September 2025 |
| Victoria Street / Dyments Creek | October 2025 |
| North Shore Trail | October 2025 |
| Audrey Milligan Park & Pond (Milligan’s Pond) Restoration in progress | November 2025 |
| Sunnidale Park Location is being monitored and responded to regularly | November 2025 |
| Shear Park | November 2025 |
| Little Lake Park | November 2025 |
| Queens Park Separate site from June 2023 | December 2025 |
Shelter Capacity
As the service manager, the County of Simcoe is responsible for managing the City of Barrie’s shelter system. The County's daily shelter and motel voucher utilization dashboard reports nightly occupancy and capacity.
Reducing Street Homelessness
The City of Barrie and the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General reached an agreement for the City, through the approval of motion 23-A-052, to pilot a shuttle service that allows individuals released from Central North Correctional Centre (CNCC) to get closer to home. The shuttle program, launched in September 2023 in collaboration with local partners, coordinates transportation for individuals recently released from the CNCC, ensuring they are safely returned to their home communities. The goal of the pilot program is to provide alternative transportation options to bring individuals leaving the correctional system closer to their desired final destination and existing support networks, proactively decreasing the number of people experiencing homelessness on Barrie’s streets.
individuals released from CNCC that have been diverted from being dropped off in Barrie. Number last updated on March 31, 2026.
Investments & Initiatives
To address chronic homelessness in Barrie, significant investments have been made by the City of Barrie and the Province, supporting a range of initiatives and programs designed to improve housing stability and access to essential services. In the 2025 budget, the City of Barrie paid $32,869,129* through taxation to the County of Simcoe for service delivery.
In addition to this, the following investments have been made and initiatives have been taken:
| Date | Initiative |
|---|---|
| April 2026 | The City of Barrie has launched a downtown community safety and cleanup pilot focused on the Mini Transit Hubs and nearby public spaces, such as Meridian Place, Heritage Park, and Sam Cancilla Park. The goal of this pilot is to enhance public safety, discourage loitering, and support cleanliness and rapid response to safety concerns. This pilot is part of the City of Barrie’s broader Community Safety & Well‑Being approach to downtown. |
| March 2026 | The City of Barrie and the County of Simcoe are actively collaborating to develop a shared Coordinated Encampment Response Protocol, establishing a consistent, compassionate, and legally compliant approach to addressing encampments across the city. This protocol will clearly define roles, responsibilities, and timelines to ensure individuals residing in encampments are connected with appropriate support services, while also supporting public safety and the appropriate use of public spaces. The coordinated protocol is intended to build on existing collaboration between the City and County, and will guide responses on municipal lands. – In Progress |
| March 2026 | The City of Barrie guided the facilitation of a collaborative partnership between the County of Simcoe and the Barrie Food Bank to enhance access to onsite supports for individuals experiencing homelessness and/or food insecurities. Beginning as early as May 2026, a County-funded case worker through the County of Simcoe’s Community Support & Wellbeing team (formally known as Ontario Works) will be available on-site at the Barrie Food Bank to provide direct connections to housing pathways, income supports, and other essential services. This initiative strengthens front-line coordination, meets people where they already access food supports, and helps reduce barriers to care through early, relationship-based intervention. – In Progress |
| Feb. 2026 | Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall formally addressed the Minister of Transportation, requesting assistance in responding to encampments situated on provincial highways and corridors. The Mayor emphasized the need for continued collaboration and coordination, mirroring the successful approach taken on municipally-owned properties. This effort aims to ensure individuals residing in these encampments are connected with essential resources, while also maintaining the safety of Barrie’s roads and highways for all residents. – In Progress |
| Dec. 2025 | Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall formally addressed the Minister of Finance, urging for an increase in the County of Simcoe’s Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) funding to support the City of Barrie’s Emergency Order and efforts in securing stable and permanent housing solutions for residents experiencing homelessness. – In Progress |
| Nov. 2025 | The City of Barrie helped to secure and fund an additional 40 overnight warming centre spaces, thereby enhancing the County of Simcoe’s winter response and supporting the City’s encampment response efforts. This initiative underscores the City's enduring commitment to supporting vulnerable community members during the most challenging months of the year. |
| Oct. 2025 | The City established a dedicated Encampment Response Team within Enforcement Services to support a proactive, coordinated approach to addressing encampments across Barrie. The team focuses on early outreach, site monitoring, and active management of emerging encampments, working closely with the County of Simcoe's contracted outreach providers to connect individuals with available supports and appropriate indoor accommodations. Since its implementation, the team has completed hundreds of proactive patrols across City parks, greenspaces, and the downtown core, helping to identify concerns early, coordinate outreach and cleanup efforts, and reduce the risk of large, entrenched encampments. This proactive approach supports public safety, cleanliness, and compassionate, coordinated service delivery throughout the city. |
| Oct. 2025 | City of Barrie provided additional funding to both the Elizabeth Fry Society and John Howard Society to assist with their family reunification programs. Under the Emergency Order, declared on Sept. 9, 2025, the City provided $5,000 to each organization, which is expected to sustain the program for another year. |
| Jan. 2025 | Province of Ontario selected Barrie for a Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub, to be operated by the County of Simcoe, expanding access to supportive housing and services for those facing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges. |
| Dec. 2024 | Province of Ontario announced support for municipalities. Following a collective letter from 17 local mayors, including Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall, to the Premier, policy changes were enacted to address encampments, and $3 million was allocated to expand shelter capacity and assist those experiencing homelessness. |
| May 2023 | City Council approved a $1.65 million investment to address chronic homelessness (see file #23-A-052), supporting several initiatives including:
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*County Services include social housing, long term care, Ontario Works, Paramedic Services, Children and Community Services, and Simcoe County Museum and Archives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources & Links
| Topic | Resources |
|---|---|
| Affordable Housing | |
| Emergency Shelter |
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| Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub | simcoe.ca/HART |
| Warming/Cooling Centre | |
| Emergency Order |
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| Mayoral Directions | |
| Community Supports |
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Data on this page are compiled and updated regularly in collaboration with data provided by the County of Simcoe and local service providers and is subject to change and may fluctuate regularly.