The County of Simcoe is in the final stages of finalizing a partnership that would bring a bridge housing program to the 40-unit modular facility currently being installed at 113 Tiffin Street in Barrie.
"Work is rapidly continuing at the site where we will soon open our largest modular facility acquired to date to serve more Simcoe County residents," the county stated in a news release on Monday.
Connections, construction and permits are expected in mid-December.
The county added that a more formal announcement about the program at the former paramedic station is expected in the coming weeks.
In October, details were announced by the county and Barrie Cares to open a Campus of Care to support people experiencing homelessness.
At the news conference, Barrie Cares also unveiled a $250,000 capital program to renovate a former paramedic station on Tiffin Street, creating a kitchen and dining area, a warming space, and urgent care rooms to connect people with immediate support and health services.
Next door, the county will provide 40 temporary bridge-housing units to create a pathway from emergency shelter to stability and recovery for an estimated 1,200 people over the next year.
The county says bridge housing is a short-term, service-intensive housing program designed to provide people experiencing homelessness, who have more complex and often concurrent barriers to exiting homelessness, with a safe, stable, and supportive environment.
"While in this program, participants are actively and intensively supported towards securing permanent housing," the county explained in its news release.
The county has also enacted a comprehensive system to increase access to warm, indoor spaces by expanding warming and temporary shelter programs.
To do this, the county has opened four warming centres in Barrie and centres in Bradford, Midland, and Wasaga Beach. One additional site will open in Orillia in early December.
"While we continue to look for new opportunities for additional warming centres across the region, the county is pleased that these eight have opened or are confirmed for the winter season, offering warming options daily, without temperature or inclement weather thresholds," stated the release.Â
On-site services vary by location and may include some amenities such as laundry, showers, meals, and/or other supports.
More information: simcoe.ca/WinterWarming
