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.
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):
- 607 individuals identify as homeless in Barrie, as of October 27, 2025
- 13 active encampments* are located on municipally-owned land throughout Barrie, as of November 5, 2025
71 individuals successfully transitioned from encampments to alternate shelter options, secured permanent housing or other resources, as of November 5, 2025
*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 connected with 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 |
Encampments addressed while under the emergency order (in effect as of September 9, 2025) include reported sites with one to three tents, structures, or debris. The locations listed below were either identified as abandoned encampments, or required only cleanup efforts.
- Anne Street South
- Bayfield Street
- Bayview Drive
- Bradford Street
- Brock Park
- Bunker's Creek
- Clapperton Street/Collier Street
- Codrington Street
- Dunlop Street West
- Edgehill Drive
- Ferndale Drive
- Grace Crescent
- Huronia Road
- Hurst Drive
- Innisfil Street
- Kidd's Creek
- Lakeshore Drive
- Little Avenue
- Livingstone Street East
- Lover's Creek
- McDonald Street/Mulcaster Street (Location is being monitored and responded to regularly)
- North Shore Trail: Three Separate Sites
- Painswick Park
- Radenhurst Park
- Ross Street
- Sam Cancillia Park (Location is being monitored and responded to regularly)
- Sarjeant Drive
- Sunnidale Park East
- Wellington Street West
- White Oaks Road
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 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 November 5, 2025.
Investments & Funding 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:
| Date | Initiative |
|---|---|
| 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 privided $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, supporting several initiatives including:
|
*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 |
|
| Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub | simcoe.ca/HART |
| Warming/Cooling Centre | |
| Emergency Order |
|
| Community Supports |
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.