Barrie residents march to end homelessness, demand housing help, and protest against encampments

Hundreds of Barrie residents participated in the End Homelessness march. The march started at Spirit Catcher and concluded near the Heart Barrie sign.

After the rally, Christine Nayler of Ryan's Hope urged all levels of government to establish a national encampment response plan.

Nayler urged all levels of government to establish a national encampment response plan. Quoting a federal housing advocate's final report, Nayler emphasized the need for urgent changes based on extensive consultations with encampment residents, community organizations, and municipalities across Canada.

Nayler criticized the approach of illegal evictions, explaining that they exacerbate the risks faced by encampment residents. "Forced evictions make people more unsafe, and expose them to a greater risk of harm and violence. Evictions remove them from their support systems and cause them to lose the tools they need to survive," she asserted. She further argued that these evictions violate human rights under Section Seven of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People, and international law.

Nayler criticized the practice of illegal evictions, explaining that they worsen the risks faced by encampment residents.

Nayler concluded her speech by calling for accountability and meaningful dialogue with those experiencing homelessness and their supporters. "Our city and our country continue to pass the buck when it comes to homelessness. We need to stop this by holding them both accountable for providing the basic necessities of life for unsheltered residents," she urged.

In an interview, community leader Michael Speers emphasized that Barrie is grappling with significant issues such as a lack of affordable housing, inadequate shelter spaces, and insufficient mental health services. He questioned the allocation of substantial funds to the police while other essential services are being cut.

Speers highlights the consistent rise in the police budget, noting, "We've seen the police budget over the past few years rise exponentially. You know, it goes up by five, six, $7 million every year." He argues that the police, as an institution, were founded on principles of racism and a disdain for the poor, a foundation that remains unchanged.

In a city grappling with these issues Speers questions the allocation of substantial funds to the police. "Giving 60 plus million dollars a year to the police is unacceptable," he states, especially when taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet.

Speers points out the disparity in resource allocation, noting, "More than 200 officers and staff members making over $100,000 on the sunshine list." 

Ashleigh and Lori, both volunteers for Ryan’s Hope, and Anisa Carrascal, Co-chair of the Simcoe County Health Coalition, also spoke after the rally.