The City of Barrie is catching heat from residents and advocates following proposed new bylaws that would ban residents from giving money, food, water and tents to unhoused people on any property owned by the city.
In May, city council passed a motion directing staff to address “the chronic homeless situation” in Barrie.
City councillors will meet and vote on the bylaw on Wednesday.
Changes to the city’s by-laws and protocols include the following:
- Prohibit the use or distribution of tents or tarps in public parks or on public lands without a permit
- Prohibit the distribution of food and grocery products in public spaces without the use of a permit
Advocacy group, Mom Stop The Harm, joined protesters outside #Barrie City Hall, as the Council is poised to pass by-laws prohibiting the distribution of food and other essentials on public property. The protest site boasts a total of ten tents, housing dozens of demonstrators. pic.twitter.com/FUEHAiSbmA
— barriecommunitymedia (@barriecommedia) June 21, 2023
The city also wants to request funding from the provincial government regarding additional financial support for the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic to provide more beds and to increase its hours of operation.
Additionally, it wants to approve funding for cooling and warming centres for at-risk individuals and provide daily meal programs.
According to the city, if it tackles food security it can reduce the needs associated with “panhandling,” which essentially means asking for money on the street.
Last year, a homeless index was done in Simcoe County and 722 people were counted as experiencing homelessness. Of this number, at least 50 per cent were found to be unhoused in Barrie.
Christine Nayler, a mental health and social justice advocate, has been following the city’s developments since the motion was first introduced.
“These bylaws are a clear violation of basic human rights. If it passes we will need a human rights lawyer to help us out,” she tweeted.
Good morning! It's day 3 of our camp out at Barrie City Hall. We stand united against outlawing kindness. We are a family, and we will continue to care for each other.#Campout4Kindness #RyansHopeFamily #MSTH #canpoli#Barrie pic.twitter.com/Bue2L7zp3e
— Christine Nayler (@ChrisNayler) June 21, 2023
Marie-Josée, from the office of the federal housing advocate, agrees.
“Barrie city council’s proposal to require permits to distribute help to people experiencing homelessness is concerning. This approach to deny basic shelter and food to people living without access to housing will lead to a worsening crisis,” she also wrote on Twitter.
NDP Member of Parliament for Courtenay-Alberni, Gord Johns, also shared his thoughts.
“This is extremely cruel, deeply disturbing and totally unconscionable! What has happened to our country? Where is the empathy?”
