Plans for 150 new social housing units at a former OPP detachment property in Barrie remain on track, but there is something else that will be constructed on the 20 Rose Street site in the coming weeks.
The County of Simcoe has approved a temporary homeless shelter on the nearly 5-acre property, which it owns.
County Warden George Cornell tells Barrie 360 that the county would like the shelter to be operational by the end of November.
The temporary emergency motel model established at the start of the pandemic for Barrie's homeless ended last month and about 76 per cent of the individuals who had been staying there transitioned to other shelter and housing options.
Cornell believes those that did not take up the offer of support could be looking for options when the cold weather arrives.
About 170 people were a part of the motel model when the program ended and there is some capacity in the shelter system across the county, with about 40 beds that are vacant.
The design of the temporary shelter has not been hammered out, though the request for proposal does consider the possibility of two buildings, and Cornell says a modular type of construction is a possibility.
"We have left that sort of criteria open to the vendors," says the warden.
The shelter beds would be available to adults and youth, with county social services working through the level of detail in terms of how they would be separated once an operator for the facility has been selected.
"We have another project that we purchased the property for which was for affordable housing in Barrie, and that project will continue," Cornell emphasized.
A staff report to county council in October 2021 indicated construction of a two-wing building on the property would consist of a mix of one, two and three-bedroom units, eight and ten storeys respectively.
“The building also contains ground-floor and second-floor commercial space for a County Social and Community Services office including Ontario Works, Children Services, and potentially other social and community supportive uses,” the report indicated. “In addition, the site is in proximity to public transit and is within walking distance to downtown services, as well as the commercial shopping areas along Bayfield Street.”
Cornell says the timeline to begin construction remains in spring 2024.
Banner image: 20 Rose Street property in Barrie will have a temporary homeless shelter on the site now that it has been approved by the County of Simcoe/ Barrie 360 (photo)
