Midhurst/September 11, 2025 – The County is prepared today, and over the coming weeks and months, to support individuals being relocated from encampments, including the one on Mulcaster.
This rapid response is made possible by the County’s proactive efforts since launching its 10-point Homelessness Prevention Plan in 2024. As the needs and visibility of homelessness has risen across Canada, the County’s plan has delivered strong results in housing individuals who are willing to accept support – whether through shelter beds, temporary accommodations, or permanent housing solutions.
Ongoing efforts by the County’s Homelessness Services Team, County-funded outreach teams, shelter providers, and HART of Simcoe County Navigation teams have been working diligently to engage and support those residing in tents along Mulcaster Street.
Outreach and HART of Simcoe County teams have engaged with 44 individuals at the site. Of those:
- 23 individuals have been successfully supported with housing and shelter options and have since relocated to the spaces.
- As of September 10, approximately 15-20 individuals remain on-site (using point in time calculations), all of whom have been triaged and matched with spaces within our current shelter system, should they be willing to accept the offers.
- The County’s 24-hour triage center at 113 Tiffin Street has remained open and will have increased staffing and support individuals, triaging them to alternative housing options. While this is a 24-hour center, the County is not permitted to provide sleeping arrangements (i.e. cots) in this location due to local by-law restrictions.
- Individuals being engaged are being offered:
- Access to housing/shelter
- Homelessness outreach services
- Wellness checks
- Connection to services including the HART of Simcoe County navigators
- Temporary storage of personal belongings
- Transportation between the sites from the City of Barrie
- Food, clothing and personal care products
Continue expanded capacity – October 2025
To support ongoing encampment enforcement and prepare for colder weather, the County has secured an additional 161 spaces across the system, including:
- 69 rooms across three hotels to support individuals with pets and/or larger family units
- 20 beds in a seniors’ retirement facility (supportive units)
- 20 apartments through head leases for long-term supportive housing programs
- 52 beds in two modular facilities for overnight staffed shelter programming
Winter investment by the County
Once permits are received from the city, the County will install and open two modular housing options previously purchased:
- A 40-bed modular at Tiffin Street anticipated this winter (pending permits)
- A new 16-bed modular currently being procured (pending land and permits approvals)
These modular facilities are in addition to the two modulars currently located at Blake Street, being utilized by Youth Haven during their delayed renovation and HART of Simcoe County focused transitional housing.
The County is prepared to expedite its winter response strategy in support of the mayor’s order. The County remains hopeful that these pre-established initiatives can be fast-tracked at the city-level to deliver both immediate and sustainable support to the community.