An encampment on Bradford Street in Barrie has been dismantled one day after its residents received notices to vacate the property, leaving many frustrated and unsure of their next steps. The move comes just two weeks after Mayor Alex Nuttall declared a state of emergency over the growing number of homeless encampments in the city. Emergency services and outreach teams were on hand to provide support and resources to those impacted. The site has now been cleared, and the city is working to ensure the area is cleaned. “It’s a bit emotional for folks, and they have nowhere to go,” said Taylor Henderson, an Indigenous outreach worker. “There’s no suitable housing for people and it’s definitely sad.” Residents of the encampment expressed frustration and desperation as they faced another displacement. “People don’t want to help. They think we’re less. We’re all human beings. We all live in the same community,” said one resident, who wished to remain anonymous. “We all have children. We don’t have children. It doesn’t matter. As humans, we need to be coming together to stop this stuff.” Another resident echoed the sentiment, saying, “We need help. We don’t need to be pushed away.” “They’re being displaced from what they call home,” Henderson explained. “A lot of these folks have lived here for a long time.” While these residents just want to be left alone, the city has a zero tolerance policy for illegal encampments and camping on public property. One encampment resident, who only gave the name Steve, said he had been living at the Bradford site since January or February. “Right now I feel really displaced and very, very unhappy with the city and with our mayor,” he said. “Let us be as long as we’re not doing anything wrong. We’re keeping the camps clean, we’re not causing any issues. Help us. Stop fighting with us.” According to the County’s data portal, there are 737 individuals experiencing homelessness in Barrie who are outside of the shelter system, including 109 children under the age of 16.
