'They're just trying to survive': Tents line Mulcaster St., near courthouse, Busby

In recent weeks, more tents have appeared in the area of the Busby Centre and across the street by the courthouse on Mulcaster Street in Barrie.

Some of the people in those tents, according to Busby executive director Sara Peddle, have migrated from a homeless encampment in the area of Anne and John Streets, which was recently cleared following a police investigation and clean-up of the property.

As a result of the investigation, a 52-year-old man is facing first and second-degree murder charges in the deaths of two men. The suspect is also charged with two counts of committing an indignity to a dead body and was already up on numerous firearms offences.

Peddle says the bigger issue with tents popping up is that more people are entering homelessness, and there are not enough shelter spaces.

Busby is a not-for-profit that assists individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

The County of Simcoe is responsible for shelter services in Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia.

When the Anne Street encampment was cleared, the county opened up temporary spaces on Sperling Drive and on Tiffin Street, and in a statement on Aug. 11, the county said services being offered included outreach services, food, cooling options, wellness checks, access to shower facilities at the Tiffin location, temporary 24-hour access to the indoor evacuation site, and more.

No additional shelter beds were offered, said Peddle, which means continuing to stretch resources. Busby has 50 funded beds and 15 additional community-supported spaces, which she says are filled every night.

Clearing the encampment was difficult for everyone involved, notes Peddle.

"We had some people that have been staying in that encampment for many years. As you can imagine, it was a heartbreaking situation, and our team was there to support all of the individuals."

Peddle estimates that about 40 to 45 people were living in the encampment before it was uprooted. She says as far as she can remember, the encampment has been there for at least 10 years and has grown in size. To Peddle, this encampment was a community.

"It was devastating to have a whole neighbourhood taken from our community without any additional resources for housing. This was one neighbourhood within our community of people who happened to be residing outside. They are mothers, grandmothers, fathers, uncles and brothers."

The core issue, says Peddle, is housing. Barrie--and Canada more broadly--does not have enough affordable units. Rising rents have pushed many people out of the housing market, while new supply has lagged far behind demand.

There have been success stories in Barrie. Lucy's Place, a partnership with Redwood Park Communities and the County of Simcoe, has provided supportive housing for people with a history of long-term homelessness. Paula's Place opened two years ago with the county and the Elizabeth Fry Society, with the addition of 14 permanent units.

While there has been some improvement for people who need access to services, addictions, mental health and otherwise, without a stable place to live, it's difficult for them to take on treatment.

"We can't expect people to do that work if they don't have a safe place to sleep," says Peddle.

A report released in January by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) said more than 80,000 Ontarians were known to be homeless in 2024, an increase of 25 per cent since 2022.

"Without significant intervention, homelessness in Ontario could double in the next decade, and reach nearly 300,000 people in an economic downturn," the AMO report stated.

This month, Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall announced two projects aimed at addressing the housing crisis.

One is a three-storey transitional housing building located on the property of Mapleview Community Church at 300 Mapleview Drive, east of Essa Road, which will feature 31 bachelor units, five of which are accessible, for individuals and families in crisis.

This is a partnership with the City of Barrie and Hollyhomes Corp., a non-profit housing provider.

Nuttall also touted a project with Pratt Homes called the Library Residences, which will feature 122 units, including 24 affordable apartments, located next to the Painswick Library on Dean Avenue. The goal is to have the first residents move in by spring 2027.

In response to the removal of people from the Anne Street homeless encampment, the County of Simcoe plans to open a 40-bed modular facility in Barrie next month.

While there is movement on several fronts, public frustration has been voiced about the growing number of tents that have been pitched near the Busby Centre and across the street from it at the entrance to the Barrie courthouse.

"We are not there to patrol or take authority over anybody. When people are using our services, we have expectations and guidelines. However, we are surrounded by municipal property and people are putting up tents. We have no authority to tell them to take them down, and we want to still keep connecting with people," explains Peddle. "We are connecting when they come to get support. Until we have housing solutions, we can't tell them to take anything down."

Peddle has been with the Busby Centre for 18 years, and her message remains the same about the need for more housing and resources. She acknowledges the surge in people needing mental health supports, and the "intensity" of substances available to those who struggle with addiction.

She says there is trauma when a person experiences homelessness, and for her, it's upsetting that these individuals have been turned out by some in the community as if they are "bad people."

"They're just trying to survive."

More information

County of Simcoe information portal on shelter space: click here

County of Simcoe 10-point homelessness prevention strategy: click here