A number of people living in a homeless encampment at Berczy Park confirmed to Barrie 360 that they were issued notices by City of Barrie by-law officials late Tuesday morning that they were violation of the city's parks and nuisance by-law.
Several of the encampment residents said they were told they had to leave the park, which is located in the area of Berczy and Owen Streets, within 72 hours.
In a statement to Barrie 360, the city said the County of Simcoe has been able to make shelter spaces available starting this week for the individuals in the Berczy Park encampment.
"The individuals in the Berczy Park encampment were advised of the offers of shelter last week. In light of the availability of shelter space and offers of shelter spaces being extended, the city is now in a position to enforce the Parks Use By-law’s prohibition on camping," according to the statement from Dawn McApline, General Manager of Community and Corporate Services.
"The city has had many complaints related to encampments. There have also been several fires in encampments this year. Camping in public parks is not safe for anyone." McApline added.
Sara Peddle, executive director of the Busby Centre, told Barrie 360 they have been able to select 20 spaces in shelters to individuals in need. The ultimate goal, Peddle added, is to get people into a housing solution.
There were several Busby Centre staff members in Berczy Park on Tuesday afternoon trying to assess the needs of the individuals living there.
More than a dozen tents dot a wooded area of the park near a stream and bridge, and within quick walking distance to a children's playground.
One person who lives in the encampment said they were going to ask residents living in the park about their plans going forward.
"Me and two other gentlemen are going to go around and talk to different people to see what they feel they would need to make things better and to move on from this."
He showed Barrie 360 the notice he was issued by by-law officials. The individual said not everyone who lives in the encampment was in the park when city authorities handed out the notices.
According to the notice, the violations listed include placing debris on city property, fouling the land by urinating and defecating, impede or interfering with other users of the property, and camping within a public park.
Another resident told Barrie 360 that not everyone in the encampment uses drugs, noting he was living in Berczy Park due to a family situation and the loss of employment.
The city said its authority to evict individuals from encampments has been limited due to the lack of available shelter space in the County of Simcoe's shelter system.
The county is responsible for housing and homelessness services including those in Barrie.
"When a complaint is received by the city’s Municipal Law Enforcement Office or an encampment discovered while on patrol, the local sheltering/outreach organizations, County of Simcoe and Barrie Police Service are notified of the matter with a request for attendance to provide shelter/support services that may be available as the initial part of the response," McApline explained. "The city is pleased that the County of Simcoe was able to free up some shelter space to address the unsafe conditions in Berczy Park."
