Addressing Homelessness & Encampments

Frequently Asked Questions

• How are responsibilities divided between the City of Barrie and the County of Simcoe in addressing homelessness?

  The County of Simcoe is the service manager for social services in Barrie. The County coordinates regional strategies and resources for homelessness prevention, including funding and oversight of shelters and social services, while the City manages bylaw enforcement on public land and municipally owned property.

• Under what circumstances can the Emergency Act be used in relation to homelessness or encampments?

  The Emergency Act is invoked when there is an imminent threat to public health or safety, such as severe weather events or urgent health crises that impacts residents of Barrie. On September 9th, 2025, Mayor Alex Nuttall officially announced that a State of Emergency has been put in place to address the escalating crisis of homeless encampments across the city.

• How do recent judicial rulings effect a municipality’s ability to address encampments?

  Recent Ontario Superior court decisions have emphasized that municipalities and service providers must ensure adequate and accessible shelter options for those experiencing homelessness. Notably, in the 2023 Superior Court decision regarding encampments in the City of Waterloo, the court determined that evicting individuals from encampments without offering accessible and appropriate shelter alternatives would violate their rights under Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The legal framework now prohibits municipalities from removing individuals from encampments unless there are enough suitable alternative accommodations available and offered.

• What are the differences in how encampments are addressed on private property, City of Barrie owned property, public lands, and Provincial property?

  The approach to addressing encampments varies depending on land ownership.  

  On private property, property owners are responsible for managing encampments in compliance with municipal by-laws and provincial laws. If there are health, safety, or by-law violations, the City may intervene through Property Standards regulations. Property owners can request removal of an encampment through the Barrie Police Service and are not required to provide alternative accommodations for those displaced.  

  For City-owned property and public lands, the City of Barrie enforces local by-laws in accordance with recent court decisions, ensuring that individuals are only relocated when adequate and accessible shelter options are available. The City works in partnership with the County of Simcoe to ensure that suitable accommodation alternative shelter is provided before any relocation from municipal lands.  

  On provincial property, including areas bordering major highways and off ramps, the Province of Ontario is responsible for enforcement and must coordinate with the County of Simcoe and local authorities to ensure alternative shelter is available before any relocation occurs. 

• How can residents report encampments in their neighbourhood?

  Residents can report encampments and related concerns by contacting City of Barrie Enforcement Services at 705-739-4241 or Enforcement.Services@Barrie.ca.