Barrie housing advocates call for continued funding for emergency shelter program
A group of advocates rallied down Bayfield street Saturday morning to bring awareness to the need for supportive housing.
"This is about housing for all, this is about putting roofs over people's heads, not tents," said Sarah Peddle, Busby Centre Executive Director.
A program for an emergency shelter that was put on during the pandemic is set to end this month. Advocates are calling on upper levels of government to continue funding emergency shelters in the city.
"We have a lot of individuals that are going to be without a place because our capacity within our community wasn't ready for this. Now it's about a housing crisis response, and we really need to focus on that," added Peddle.
The hotel voucher program was extended for two weeks from its initial date. However, there's currently no plan in place for when it ends.
Peddle said over 200 people relied on the program.
"Some of the individuals that have found some stability in a motel program and started to access health care and trying to access mental health services are now.. that stability is gone," she added.
One of those individuals is Barrie resident Patrick McLellan.
"For everything you could possibly need for a time when you're going through a very low point in your life, they give you the support you need to help try to bring yourself back up," said McLellan, who's been using the program since February June 3rd.
Although grateful for what the program has done for him, he said he's worried about what will happen next.
"There's going to be hundreds of people on the streets. That's going to be a whole new epidemic in Barrie that we've never seen before," said McLellan.
"There's a lot of people that need shelter. It's not just a home. We need affordable housing and to lower the rent prices," said Isabella Ottaviani, Busby Essential Shelter Worker.
The Busby centre says it will continue daily talks with the city and county in hopes of finding an alternative solution before the emergency funding ends on June 30th.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lack of detention space could force CBSA to release detainees, internal memo warns
The Canada Border Services Agency is scrambling to find space to hold high-risk detainees that are set to be transferred from provincial jails in June.
BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
BREAKING Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
Ontario Provincial Police say they have 'disrupted' an organized crime group that allegedly used an emergency grandparent scam to defraud seniors across Canada out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
What does it mean to be 'house poor' and how can you avoid it?
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.