The Executive Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka says a fire that gutted its Joyce Kope House shelter on Maple Avenue in Barrie has been 'devastating' for the organization, its staff and, most importantly, the women who rely on it for safety and shelter.
Emergency crews responded to the blaze around 8:40 a.m. Sunday.
On Monday, Barrie Police said they had charged a 44-year-old woman with arson and failure to comply with a probation order.
In an email to Barrie 360, Meaghan Chambers says the fire significantly impacted the emergency shelter and transition home, which has a capacity of 37 beds and supports hundreds of women each year.
Chambers says the organization's immediate priority has been ensuring every woman has access to safe accommodations and continued support.
She says the County of Simcoe has been working alongside community partners, including the Busby Centre, Barrie Native Friendship Centre and Huronia Transition Homes, to coordinate temporary accommodations for displaced residents.
Through those efforts, some women have been relocated to alternative spaces.
Chambers says the organization has also secured temporary space to continue providing emergency shelter services and essential supports while it works toward establishing a longer-term operating plan.
Four people, including one staff member, were transported to hospital for smoke inhalation following the fire. Chambers says most have since been released.
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As for the building itself, initial observations suggest the damage may not be structural, but professional assessments are still needed to determine the extent of restoration required.
Chambers says the organization remains hopeful the building can be repaired.
She describes Joyce Kope House as more than just a shelter, saying it is a place of safety, stability and hope for women experiencing homelessness and crisis.
Chambers says the response from staff, emergency responders, community partners and the broader Barrie community has been extraordinary.
The Elizabeth Fry Society is accepting donations of women's clothing, including underwear, socks, bras, winter coats, hats, mittens and shoes, as well as hygiene products, food and snacks.
Donations can be dropped off at the Barrie Chamber of Commerce, 121 Commerce Park Drive, Unit A, or the Barrie Native Friendship Centre, 175 Bayfield Street.
The Friendship Centre is accepting donations Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., while donations can be dropped off at the Chamber from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monetary donations can also be made through the Elizabeth Fry Society website.
