Two business organizations have come out in support of the City of Barrie's state of emergency declaration to address homeless encampments.
The Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) said in a media release on Friday that, as the city's media release stated, "Barrie has had enough."
"The chamber believes that Barrie businesses have had enough."
In a media release on Friday, the GBCC said that for years, limited substantive action by all parties has left critical issues unresolved- homelessness, mental health, addictions, and community safety.
"The current situation is untenable for those living in crisis and for the community around them. This action is warranted and necessary," the news release stated.
The same feelings were echoed on Friday by the Downtown Barrie BIA, representing over 400 locally owned businesses and property owners.
"The declaration of a state of emergency provides a pathway to secure additional resources, partnerships, and actions to ensure those supports are in place."
The Downtown Barrie BIA Board says it commends local leadership for taking decisive action to address this urgent and complex situation.
Mayor Alex Nuttall announced the state of emergency on Tuesday at a news conference held in the driveway of the Barrie courthouse, where, behind him, over 20 tents were pitched on the Mulcaster Street boulevard.
On Thursday, city bylaw enforcement and police kept watch as the tents were removed, while those who had been living in them received assistance from outreach staff from various shelters.
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The County of Simcoe says outreach and HART of Simcoe County teams have engaged with 44 individuals at the site, and 36 of them have been successfully supported with accommodation options and have since relocated to the spaces.
In a news release on Friday, the county said that as of the end of the day on September 11, eight people from the Mulcaster encampment have declined offers for shelter spaces and chose to move out of the encampment enforcement area.
For those who did not accept an available space, county outreach teams will continue to engage with them daily.
The county's 24-hour triage centre, located at 113 Tiffin Street, is open with increased staffing and services tailored to each individual. While the centre operates 24 hours, the county is not permitted to provide beds in this location due to local bylaw restrictions.
In response to growing concerns around homelessness and the upcoming colder season, the county says it is intensifying its efforts to provide safe and supportive housing options.
"This builds on the foundation laid by the County’s 10-point Homelessness Prevention Plan, launched in 2024, which has made meaningful progress in connecting individuals to shelter, transitional housing, and permanent accommodations."
Continued expanded capacity - October 2025
To bolster enforcement around encampments and ensure readiness for the colder months, the County has secured 161 additional spaces across its housing system, including:
- 69 hotel rooms across three locations, to accommodate families and/or those with pets
- 20 supportive beds in a seniors’ retirement facility
- 20 leased apartments for long-term supportive housing programs
- 52 beds in two modular units offering overnight shelter with on-site staffing
Winter investment by the County
Earlier this year, the County began investing in additional infrastructure to meet urgent needs ahead of the 2025/26 winter season. In addition to expanding warming centre access and outreach services, two new modular housing projects are planned for Barrie, pending permit approvals:
- 40-bed modular facility at Tiffin Street, pending permit approvals
- 16-bed modular unit currently in procurement, contingent on land and permit approvals
These new modulars will complement the existing ones located on Blake Street, which are currently serving Youth Haven during renovations and the HART of Simcoe County’s transitional housing program.
