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PUBLIC MEETING - MOTION 23-A-052, CONCERNING OPTIONS TO ADDRESS CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF BARRIE
Councillor, S. Morales advised that the purpose of the public meeting is to provide members of the Community an opportunity to provide comments concerning chronic homelessness in the City of Barrie.
Michael Prowse, Chief Administrative Officer provided a presentation concerning Council approved motion 23-A-052 regarding options to address chronic homelessness in the City of Barrie.
Mr. Prowse discussed slides concerning the following topics:
• The County of Simcoe designation as homelessness prevention service manager by Province of Ontario and the City’s role and limitations;
• Council’s resolution related to options to address chronic homelessness in the City;
• The request to the Province of Ontario for funding;
• An overview of the family reunification fund;
• The County of Simcoe and City of Barrie partnership for Cooling and Warming Centres;
• The municipality’s funding to support food security programs;
• The Mobile Outreach Pilot Program in Downtown Barrie;
• The proposed changes to City of Barrie By-laws;
• Public Education related to panhandling; and
• The City of Barrie’s housing pledge.
Members of Committee asked a number of questions of City staff and the County of Simcoe and received responses.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
1. Joan Kelso commented that she is in attendance to express her fear and concerns regarding the Downtown Barrie area. Ms. Kelso stated that she has been a resident of Barrie since 1989 and lived and owned property in the downtown core since 1999. She commented that she and her husband own various properties in the downtown, including office space and rooming houses. Ms. Kelso expressed that she cares about her tenants and their right to live safely and peacefully and not be subjected to the drugs, loitering, and violence taking place close to their homes. She commented that the Barrie Police Service should also be enforcing the laws.
Ms. Kelso expressed that those who are unhoused and unruly are a problem and that we are turning a blind eye to unlawful individuals who display no common decency or respect for their surroundings or community. She noted that the downtown used to be a pleasant area to live and work but that this is no longer the case. Ms. Kelso stated that everything changed for the worse when the Busby Centre relocated to Mulcaster Street in 2014 and that since this time, she has regularly observed open drug use on the lawn of the courthouse, people travelling back and forth to the methadone clinic to obtain and then sell drugs on the street, discarded needles, and solicitation.
Ms. Kelso commented that residents are reluctant to move into their downtown condos as they are afraid to walk downtown, and that new residents have witnessed overdoses from their balconies. She noted that the patrons of the Running Room are afraid to walk to their cars at night and that an overdose occurred on the front lawn of her husband’s office two weeks ago at 8 a.m. and was witnessed by one of his employees. She further noted that defecation has occurred on front lawns in the area and expressed that Council needs to take action to help all residents of Barrie.
Ms. Kelso stated that the tenants living at her Macdonald Street property are afraid and that some tenants have lived there for 15 plus years. She noted that the loitering at the corner of McDonald and Mulcaster Streets is out of control and that her property on Mulcaster Street has been broken into multiple times. She stated that they have spent thousands of dollars to replace doors and install security systems and cameras while paying significant property taxes as the value of her properties decrease. She questioned why the city allowed the Busby Centre to locate in an area that cannot house the patrons when they are outside. Ms. Kelso called on the City of Barrie and the police to take action to help residents.
Ms. Kelso stated that homelessness is a nation-wide problem. She noted that the City of Timmins is looking to move its shelters away from dense residential and commercial areas, and that the Town of Huntsville has an OPP presence in the downtown that deters loitering and drug use. She also noted that the Province of Alberta is taking a recovery-first approach as the statistics indicate that individuals who are homeless are likely experiencing substance abuse challenges. Ms. Kelso expressed that a residential and day rehabilitation centre is needed in the city of Barrie and shared that her family has personal experience with these issues and has had success with rehabilitation. She concluded by noting that benefits cannot be provided to one segment of the population without considering the rights of others.
2. Bill Anderson’s name was called but he was not in attendance at the meeting.
3. Jason O'Neil commented that he and his wife are owners of McDonald’s restaurants and that he wishes to discuss the impact of homelessness on the Dunlop Street McDonald’s Restaurant staff members, guests, and overall business. Mr. O’Neil noted that they are a local family that runs a family restaurant where they take care of their team members by providing opportunities for employment in a safe and respectful workplace while offering quality service and food to guests. He expressed that he wishes to describe the impact that the current downtown environment and culture has had on his business, team members, and guests.
Mr. O’Neil stated that an emergency call to police occurs almost every day due to assaults on team members from unwanted guests, fighting in the dining room or parking lot, open drug use, and the destruction of property. He described the toll this takes on the business, team members, and guests, and commented that significant capital expenses are accrued to help minimize the effects of this behaviour. Mr. O’Neil stated that the negative impact of this behaviour on the people, management team, and employee retention is significant, with business itself and sales being impacted.
Mr. O’Neil stated that he is at a loss to explain to his staff why unwanted guests who commit acts are taken away one day and then are back the same day or the next day, often without recourse. He commented that he is at a loss to explain to his staff what they are doing as an employer to protecting them in the workplace. Mr. O’Neil expressed that no one should wonder why people are avoiding the downtown and requested a significant holistic approach to protecting team members and guests in the downtown core of the city. He noted that they are open and happy to serve everyone, but that the teams ask that people be respectful.
4. Lance Chilton commented that he has been a resident of Barrie since 1998 and currently owns a business in the city. He thanked the Mayor and Council, City staff and the County of Simcoe staff for turning their attention to the most serious problem facing Barrie and many other cities across the continent. Mr. Chilton expressed that didn’t want to repeat the experiences of those who work and employ people in the downtown and what they have had to endure because of the issues of homelessness, addiction, and mental health, as this has already been said. He acknowledged that a lot of time and resources are being spent on these issues.
Mr. Chilton stated that there are two main groups: the vulnerable and unhoused, and the residents of the city who deserve to live safely and feel safe and secure going to work. He noted that his employees have observed crimes being committed while going to and from work and that people have broken in, and camped on his property at night as they thought they were at home. Mr. Chilton expressed that people need to be kept safe, sound, and warm in whatever manner is possible and that it is just as important for the quality of life that citizens feel safe and secure in their homes, properties, and places of work. He commented that the City has a department of finance, libraries, buses, etc., and that a department on homelessness is needed as the problem is serious. He acknowledged the various committees, agencies, and organizations currently working on this issue and expressed that the problem is significant enough that the City may need to become a manager on this issue. Mr. Chilton concluded by stating that the problem will get out of hand unless it is tackled quickly, decisively, and in a rapid fashion.
5. Steve Ricalis on behalf of Donaleigh’s Irish Public House name was called but was not in attendance at the meeting.
6. John Alousis stated that every time he talks to a resident or business owner, the problem and challenges being faced in the downtown are discussed. He expressed that the challenges of today cannot be the challenges of the future and that we cannot focus on support for social services without an equal focus on the harm they attract by their presence. Mr. Alousis noted that theft, shoplifting, break-ins, vandalism, threats, drug use, loitering, and trespassing are daily acts of lawlessness that have increased drastically since the COVID-19 pandemic ended and the homeless have returned to the downtown to access social services.
Mr. Alousis noted that the Busby Shelter on Mulcaster Street is virtually surrounded by preexisting residential uses, parks, the library, the courthouse, the Centre for Grieving Children, and City Hall. He further noted that it is a short walking distance to schools, businesses, offices, and the waterfront park system. Mr. Alousis expressed that the Busby Centre strives to achieve noble purposes to assist the needy but that it does so openly ignoring the damage and fear that it has instilled in neighborhood residents and businesses. He stated that the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) of Simcoe County bought the property at 88 and 90 Mulcaster for $1.8 million in 2014 and that last June, the Busby Centre requested $400,000 from the City of Barrie and another 1.2 million from the County of Simcoe to pay for the post COVID-19 pandemic transition from the hotel program back to 88 Mulcaster Street.
Mr. Alousis stated that the Busby Centre has become a large social enterprise and noted that this past August, the Busby Centre purchased 88 and 90 Mulcaster Street from the CMHA for $4 million dollars with records showing it paid 1.2 million in cash and 2.8 million with a mortgage to Meridian Credit Union. He questioned why it requested transition funding from the City and the County of Simcoe if it had these funds available, if any of the funding provided went towards its purchase of the property, and why the property was not sold to the public on MLS. Mr. Alousis stated that all levels of government must be accountable for their spending and that in turn the social services who receive funding must also be held accountable.
Mr. Alousis stated that the Busby Centre took over a shelter program that had previously been run seasonally by six churches. He noted that it moved to its location without notice, consultation with, or regard for neighbors in the downtown core. He stated that because of complaints to the City in 2019, Council asked the CMHA and the Busby Centre to meet regularly with neighbours to address the issues and harms that are occurring, with two City Councillors also attending those meetings. Mr. Alousis commented that these meetings ended in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and that he emailed the CMHA and the Busby Centre in 2021 asking whether these meetings would restart to discuss the construction of a fence and other mitigation strategies. He noted he did not receive a response.
Mr. Alousis commented that last year the Busby Centre was informed of break-ins occurring at residences and businesses in the area. He stated that its response was that it has no authority over people committing illegal acts and that the police are the best line of authority to respond to these matters. Mr. Alousis stated that given this response, he questions how the City plans to fund the police to sufficiently address the rising crime. He expressed that the City and the County have contributed to the harm caused to residents and downtown businesses and that resident property rights have effectively been expropriated and caused injury.
Mr. Alousis commented that the present downtown social services conflict with the goal of ending homelessness. He stated that housing intensification is needed to create affordable housing and that affordable housing is needed to address homelessness. Mr. Alousis expressed that the city has planned for residential intensification in and around the downtown core, but that lawlessness may delay or deter residential intensification and therefore contribute to homelessness. He noted that this is a Catch 22 situation. Mr. Alousis concluded by requesting that the City create a task force comprised of affected residents, businesses, the County of Simcoe, shelter representatives, affordable housing advocates, and first responders to review the current plans and policies for dealing with homelessness and lawlessness. He expressed that the situation is urgent and that all parties need to work together to reach a holistic solution that brings the greatest amount of good with the least amount of harm to all residents of Barrie.
7. Craig Stevens introduced himself as the Executive Director of the Downtown Barrie BIA. He commented that it is difficult to say that it is getting harder and harder to keep their heads up as they make their way through the downtown. He expressed that despite this, they are staying positive and continuing to make investments in the public realm because there are local Mainstreet businesses at stake. Mr. Stevens stated that as an event facilitator, the BIA has experienced six overdoses and counting during family events in Meridian Place over the past few weeks, and even more overdoses and deaths in downtown alleys. He noted that the BIA has contemplated cancelling events for the safety and well-being of its staff and attendees. Mr. Stevens commented that it is not a matter of making people aware of the situation, but a matter of how we can come together to find solutions.
Mr. Stevens stated that the new initiatives that have been implemented by Council are believed by the BIA board to be a success. He expressed that the BIA would like to see the following initiatives continued and/or expanded: the two Barrie Police Service officers dedicated to the downtown; the County of Simcoe One Community Solutions Pilot Project which has been on site for six of the overdoses and responsible for two lives saved; the City of Barrie operations staff dedicated to picking up garbage; the uniformed police officers paired with RVH; the non-uniformed police offer paired with a mental health professional; the BPS instruction to route through downtown while on shift; and, the moratorium on prisoner release drop off in Barrie for those who are not from Barrie.
Mr. Stevens noted that the BIA has implemented health and safety event measures because of the six overdoses in Meridian Place, including additional security personnel dedicated to Meridian Place during public events, and a public event email sent to all first responders with a request for staff to be on alert. Mr. Stevens concluded by emphasizing that as a community partner, the BIA is able to offer assistance within the scope of its mandate and that it is here to help focus on achieving collaborative solutions.
8. Gerry Jeffrey commented that her family has lived on Mulcaster and Worsley Streets for almost 70 years and that they have seen a lot of changes over the years but nothing like what has occurred in the past few years. She expressed that it has become scary for those who live in the area, including herself and her tenants, and that she has personally been accosted a few times with the police needing to be called. She stated that she regularly picks up garbage and has found used needles on the lawn. Ms. Jeffrey commented that she was on a committee with the Busby Centre, neighborhood residents, and local councillors which would meet once a month to discuss issues and look for solutions.
Ms. Jeffrey commented that the Busby Centre had a sandwich board sign placed at the entrance of its building outlining the expectations of clients, including being a good neighbor and no drug use. She commented that she sees drug use occurring on a regular basis directly outside the Busby Centre. She stated that she was told by a Busby Centre staff person that an employee of the Centre would be outside with clients but that she does not believe this is taking place. Ms. Jeffrey expressed that based on what she has seen and heard, she believes that the Busby Centre is in over their heads and that they do not know how to deal with the number of people in such a small space. She noted that this is part of the problem. Ms. Jeffrey concluded by stating that all people should be handled with kindness and respect but noted her concerns when people are scared and cross the road, so they don’t have to walk in front of the Busby Centre.
9. Drew Dekker commented that he is a local business owner on Bayfield Street and is from a Dutch family. He expressed that the Dutch have a term called ‘gedogen’ which loosely translates to ‘tolerance’, where police abstain from bringing charges for certain acts. He stated that under the gedogen policy the greater good yields to an identifiable greater cause and that the Dutch practice of decriminalization is well known. Mr. Dekker commented that the City of Helsinki is working on a housing first policy and that it is on track to eliminate homelessness by 2025. He noted that under this policy, everyone is given a home and participates in a program to get back on their feet. He highlighted that Helsinki is safe, the economy is booming, and people living on the streets are not tolerated. He expressed that this works because tolerance has limits.
Mr. Dekker continued that over the years it has been realized that excessive tolerance is not a virtue and that the lack of standing for boundaries doesn’t solve anything. He quoted the saying “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything” and commented that if we continue to tolerate more, we are going to be on the receiving end of more of it. Mr. Dekker expressed that what is coming from a place of goodness is only exacerbating the problem and that what comes from a well-meaning place backfires tragically when limits are not set. He commented that as much as the path of addiction and mental health problems destroys the lives of addicts and their families, so does enabling and tolerating the behavior when it eventually ends up on our streets. He expressed that left to its own devices, this will also necrotize our own community and he requested that Council stop doing things that make it worse.
Mr. Dekker clarified that not everybody who is upset about homelessness and addictions is mean. He noted that this is often labeled nimbyism and clarified that these are not uncompassionate people as most people want troubled people dealt with humanely. He expressed that people are in attendance because of people defecating in the middle of intersections, and home invasions. Ms. Dekker described visiting his brother’s house and observing an individual walking with a brick and smashing car windows in the driveway after driveway. He stated that yesterday an assault rifle was confiscated in the Downtown. Mr. Dekker questioned when enough is going to be enough and what is going to need to happen for it to be enough.
Mr. Dekker expressed that Barrie is not the wild west and that the public is not being mean but that they have an equal right to live in a lawful city where there are not two sets of laws. He stated that people should have the right to walk our streets while not feeling that they are in danger and that this is a fundamental right that those in a community should have. Mr. Dekker expressed that tolerance needs to have limits and boundaries and cautioned that adding band-aids and police that offer the wrong types of services will only enable and exacerbate the problem. He commented that no one in this room has the answers and that there is no easy solution, but that the status quo and building more capacity is not going to solve the problem. He expressed that residents are in attendance because they care but that they are also fed up. Mr. Dekker concluded by stating that setting boundaries in our tolerances and sticking to them needs to happen before things get worse. He expressed that if we fail to set a line we will fail and that a set of standards and a line in the sand for what the decorum is and needs to be established. He stated that it was time for a new approach.
10. Jason Beattie commented that he has had the opportunity to spend his entire life in the Downtown Core. He noted that he took a few years to travel and live in different places, such as Buffalo, New York, Los Angeles, the Philippines, and Vancouver, and that he has seen things that work and don’t. He expressed that homelessness, poverty, and drug use are not a Barrie problem but an international problem. Mr. Beattie stated that he moved back to Barrie and wishes to build roots here and a future with his wife, but he acknowledged the downtown core has changed. He commented that the City wants intensification, growth, prosperity, and to attract businesses for job creation and tax dollars and that this, in turn, generates different services. He noted that each component feeds the other.
Mr. Beattie commented that the programs of six churches have been combined and are now run by the Busby Centre. He expressed that this has led to a concentration of drug use and homelessness in the downtown core. He expressed his disappointment with the lack of transparency and community involvement concerning the Busby Centre and stated that the Busby Centre does not inform the community and continues to make decisions without community consultation, such as the purchase of the building next to its current location. He expressed that the expansion of the Busby Centre has blindsided the community and that this represents an irresponsible action.
Mr. Beattie spoke about homelessness and drug use, and its relationship with mental health. He expressed that he does not want to diminish the plight of those experiencing homelessness but that he wishes to highlight the responsibility of Council to the community members impacted by the open drug use and the unsafe neighborhoods that are being created as a result. He noted that the Busby Centre has made promises to the community in the past and has not fulfilled them, such as the proposed building of a fence. Mr. Beattie commented that drug use is allowed to happen on the Busby and City property and described that this evening when driving past the Busby Centre to attend this public meeting, he saw open drug use and people sleeping on cardboard boxes outside the front door. He expressed that this does not make people feel safe and that it demonstrates that the Busby Centre cannot effectively manage its space and population. He further expressed that for Busby to expand its operations in light of this is not fair to the people they serve or the community it operates in.
Mr. Beattie commented that the concentration of services in the singular location of the Busby Centre creates an unsafe environment for both the people using it and the community. He stated that those at the Busby Centre without drug problems are being exposed to it daily and that users are brought to the Busby Centre and are concentrated in a singular location which is bringing crime and all the things that come with it. Mr. Beattie questioned whether the City has calculated the total cost to the community as a result of the Busby Centre, such as the cost of the security systems for businesses and homes in the area. He noted that there are full-time security guards at downtown banks and the library and questioned whether families can feel safe attending library programs when a security guard is needed at the front door.
Mr. Beattie commented that he sees community members picking up drug paraphernalia and needles and that police attended his wife’s business and advised that the doors should always be locked, staff members should carry whistles, and a panic button should be installed at the front desk. He expressed dismay with these requests being made of businesses that are trying to provide jobs to the community. He stated that the police interact with these individuals who are being disruptive and noted that these individuals are known to the police. He commented that he has seen individuals stealing from teenagers and throwing rocks at them, verbal aggression, and trespassing. Mr. Beattie concluded by expressing that it is fine to have goals for the growth and intensification of the city but that the city needs to be built for everyone.
11. Melissa Conte commented that she is speaking based on her experiences as a young female lawyer working on Mulcaster Street and the experiences of her female staff members. She stated that she came to the area ten years ago as a young summer student at a law firm where she began delivering documents to other law firms. She expressed that during this time she was always vigilant but never left the office being fearful of being yelled at, chased down the street, or having attempts made to grab her purse. Ms. Conte stated that today, a typical walk down Mulcaster and Collier Streets to the banks regularly includes sidestepping alcohol bottles and drug paraphernalia on sidewalks, being approached and screamed at with nonsensical language and profanities, having to run away or walk quickly as they are continuously monitoring their surroundings. She highlighted that what is most concerning is that during the past few months, there have been groups of individuals congregated together on the sidewalks essentially blocking access to pedestrians.
Ms. Conte expressed that she no longer feels comfortable driving along McDonald Street as she has been forced to stop her vehicle by people unwilling to move from the middle of the roadway and people running across the roadway without regard for approaching vehicles. She stated that next Wednesday will mark one year since the date that one of her staff members encountered an intruder that viscously knocked down the back door to their office. She noted that from this point forward, they experienced the beginning of a marked sense of uneasiness with leaving the boundaries of their office. Ms. Conte commented that have experienced an intruder in their back parking lot and those trying to open their car doors and the front door of their office. She noted that they must redirect clients due to barefoot trespassers at their office building and that each and every day they quickly lock the front door for safety reasons the moment after clients enter the office.
Ms. Conte described a phone call from a distressed staff member early one morning regarding the police, firefighters, and paramedics in the driveway of their office reviving an individual who had overdosed. She stated they reviewed their security cameras which showed two individuals meeting up, sitting on the front steps of their office and smoking something. She described that instantly one individual was on the ground struggling to breath. Ms. Conte expressed that she is tired of this, and that meaningful change is necessary to protect Barrie residents and employees. She further expressed those feelings of uneasiness at merely opening a door or exiting a vehicle, and the persistent sounds of sirens should not be expected as new normal in the city of Barrie.
Ms. Conte read the following comments on behalf of the owners of Donaleigh’s and Front Street Diner:
• Described their struggle over the last three years against rapidly increasing excessive drug use in downtown Barrie and is embarrassing as both a business owner and resident of the City.
• Employees walk their properties daily to pick up needles and drug tools and deal with the results of this behaviour on a daily basis, such as people passing out and harassing residents and visitors.
• Questioned how they and small business owners are supposed to attract regular and first-time visitors to the downtown core in the current environment and noted that this is a fight they have been losing for years.
• Questioned why anyone would want to bring their families to the Downtown for dinner only to experience drug use in alleys.
• Women must be walked to their cars only to find them broken into by people getting high in their cars.
• Incidents taking place more than once and questioning what would have happened if these girls were alone and not with someone to help remove these people.
• Too many close calls and overdoses and expressed the need to create a safe space and downtown for everyone, noting that if this doesn’t occur, people will stop coming into the downtown, and businesses will have no choice but to close.
• The downtown core is the heartbeat of every city and it is imperative that drastic steps be taken to make the downtown safe and become a destination once again.