A temporary homeless shelter with 50 beds at 20 Rose Street in Barrie will wind down operations at the end of April.
The County of Simcoe, which oversees shelter services in the region, opened the temporary shelter in late December.
"Over the coming weeks, current shelter users will continue to be assisted in finding permanent housing options, or, as necessary, further supported through the permanent shelter system," the county said in a news release on Tuesday.
The temporary shelter has been operated by the Busby Centre.
It consists of five mobile units that were converted into one facility.
Shelter users can access the facility between 7 p.m. and 10 the next morning, but it is not open throughout the day.
The future use of the property will be an affordable housing development containing 150 new apartments for families, seniors and individuals.
The county says the ground floor will also include Social and Community Services space for County services, including Ontario Works, Children Services, Community Services, and Social Housing. The building may also contain other social service partner agencies such as Licensed Child Care,
and potentially an EarlyON Child and Family Centre.
Construction could begin in late spring or early summer of next year with completion pegged for late 2026 or early 2027.
County-funded shelters in Simcoe County include:
- Elizabeth Fry Society, serving women and gender diverse individuals – Barrie
- La Maison Rosewood Shelter, serving women and children – Midland
- Salvation Army Bayside Mission, serving men – Barrie
- S.H.I.F.T. – Alliston (temporary winter sheltering)
- The Busby Centre – Barrie
- The Busby Centre – Collingwood (temporary winter sheltering)
- The Guesthouse – Midland
- The Lighthouse – Orillia
- Youth Haven, serving youth ages 16 to 24 years old – Barrie
Image supplied - County of Simcoe
