Title
Public Comments - Speakers 29 - 33
29. Ash P commented that throwing more hate at a problem that was created by hate and greed is not the answer, but treating it with love and support is the only way for the community to heal and be safe. She challenges each member of Council to spend some time on the streets, volunteer with those organizations doing outreach, and for breakfast to meet the unhoused members of the community which she feels has been neglected by the City.
Ms. P indicated that there was no thought on how these proposed by-laws would directly affect and harm the community and the real community. She discussed concerns related to the proposed by-law that could potentially make it illegal to give out food to anyone in need which she feels is cruel and how this by-law has the potential of separating the community. She mentioned that It's on the streets with neighbors helping, neighbors, housed and unhoused, working together to heal and grow.
The Community Safety Committee adopted a procedural motion with a two-thirds majority to suspend the provisions of Section 2(18) of Procedural By-law 2019-100 to allow for the continuation of the Community Safety Committee meeting past 9:00 p.m. for those who pre-registered to speak at the Public Meeting.
30. Amy Pauley indicated that she has lived in Barrie all her life and that she works at Trinity Anglican Church downtown. She mentioned a vision where everyone can all be together in the community.
Ms. Pauley indicated that she was moved by the people who experienced fear and being unsafe, and she mentioned that Trinity Anglican has also experienced some of the same issues and wants to keep her members safe. She described that the church has hosted the breakfast program and opened its doors to those in need. She indicated that she has talked to outreach workers, and they need help to help others in need.
Ms. Pauley discussed the family reunification plan as being the first thing done in the community and she feels that it seems like the City just wants to stop helping people and make them go away. She questioned the timing of the safe consumption site and whether the Province had been contacted regarding the status of the project.
Ms. Pauley discussed affordable housing being hard to build and that churches have offered the city help to build it. She indicated that there has been no follow-up from a conference that was recently held in Barrie which included County representatives.
Ms. Pauley indicated that plans are great, but she suggested that they be completed in an order that is humane and includes affordable housing/and/or safe consumption site first. She questioned where these unhoused individuals go when they are removed from encampments.
31. Valerie Grdisa, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Mental Health Association of Simcoe County (CMHA) indicated that her organization was never consulted regarding the City’s recommendation regarding Options to Address Chronic Homelessness.
Ms. Grdisa stated that CMHA serves 8,000 individuals experiencing mental health, substance related, and gambling issues in Simcoe County with nearly 5,000 being served in Barrie. She felt that affordable and supportive housing stands as a pivotal cornerstone of community safety and wellness, through the homelessness initiative, a rent supplement program in partnership with the County of Simcoe and the Province of Ontario and they offer secure and dignified housing for more than 300 individuals.
Ms. Grdisa mentioned that CMHA did look at some of their initiatives and would welcome the City of Barrie's request for an increase in funding for some of their proven initiatives, and they too have conversations with the Province of Ontario.
Ms. Grdisa expressed her appreciation to those members of Council in office during 2022 who approved the site selection for the consumption and treatment services site, but that was two years ago and still are waiting on the Province of Ontario’s approval. She stated that CMHA is continuing to pay rent for the site, and staff at that site are continually harassed by residents who do not want the safe consumption site to be located there. She has tried to get the harassment to stop but feels that the problem exceeds mental illness or substance related problems and that there is something going on in society that we all have to take ownership of.
Ms. Grdisa discussed the opioid crisis, the pharmaceutical industry, and prescribers. She felt it was our collective responsibility to care for people who were lied to and poisoned by people they trusted.
Ms. Grdisa described CMHA’s 10 year history of providing mobile crisis response team support, and their potential partnership with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centres on a pilot program on dealing with the acute side. She mentioned that CMHA has opioid outreach counselors in the downtown core, crisis support counselors, and brief service outreach counselors, but there is a need to optimize all resources. She discussed a release for custody program where we actually support people transferring from the Central North Correctional center.
Ms. Grdisa mentioned that CMHA is hoping to get final approval from the Province to fund the construction of six new beds which will be an addition to their six crisis beds.
Ms. Grdisa discussed the food security program called urban pantry, which provides food support to hundreds of families, including teaching cooking skills, and gardening skills, and their appeal to the City for temporary funding solutions which did not receive Council's approval. She advised that she is happy to hear that there is a focus on food security but does have concerns that their Good Food Box Program may end up having trouble with funding for the Program.
In closing, Ms. Grdisa mentioned that she is delighted to hear the different perspectives from everyone. She does feel that it is important to continue discussions on ways to optimize community-based services and supports that already exist to avoid duplications committed to a safe and thriving community.
32. Elaine Gareau on behalf of the Simcoe County Kairos provided a background of the organization and its membership.
Ms. Gareau described that in 2021 a number of our members were involved in the breakfast to go program first spearheaded by Christine Naylor, who went on to found Ryan's Hope. She advised that members of the churches have taken on the responsibility of serving breakfast to the unhoused and those in need from Monday to Thursday since the spring of 2021. She commented that volunteers come face to face every day with the most vulnerable in the city. Ms. Gareau mentioned that you do not have to be a member of a church to become a volunteer with the organizations. She indicated that breakfast to go programs are not the answer to end homelessness, but they are necessary when our society safety net fails.
Ms. Gareau discussed the City’s proposed by-laws, which she feels will not solve the city’s homelessness, but only apply a series of band-aids to a complex issue for our city strategy to work. She felt that the city should review strategies from other municipalities which have worked since Barrie is not the first person to face this situation.
Ms. Gareau questioned whether there was a link between the County of Simcoe’s 10 Point Plan to End Homelessness and the punitive aspects of the City’s by-laws. She felt that input should be provided from all community agencies.
Ms. Gareau stated that community safety also means safety for the homeless, as they are part of the City. She questioned the status of the safe consumption site which research shows would address the core drug problem in downtown Barrie. Ms. Gareau also stated that financial support from all levels of government is needed.
Ms. Gareau discussed a story from the Global Mail outlining the strategy to dimmish homelessness in London, England, and that the strategy involved many institutions working in concert under a goal of driven leadership.
Ms. Gareau noted City Council intent to make a positive impact with those by-laws, but she feels a serious solution would involve engagement with many more people and resources.
33. Laura Phillip advised that she is employed by McCowen and Associates, a company that has spent millions of dollars investing in Barrie. She described her 35 year passion for helping those with mental illness.
Ms. Phillip advised that she has provided housing to people with mental illness through various programs such as through the Minster of Health and Long-Term Care which is community homes for opportunities and that these homes are licensed, safe, and secure housing with support for people with serious mental illness. She also mentioned homes within the County of Simcoe which are funded through the homelessness initiatives. She noted that over the last several years there have been holds on funding which means if a resident leaves, there is no funding for a new resident.
Ms. Phillip indicated that due to lack of funding, she currently has 15 beds available that would house the very vulnerable. She expressed appreciation for the County of Simcoe and their forward thinking. She commented that the only way she can sustain her businesses is through capitalistic ventures that provide her with income to provide housing. She discussed concerns with increased taxes, increased standards, high cost of food and utilities, and money supporting programs that already exist.
Ms. Phillips indicated that the turnover rate at her location is very low, and she has had residents living there for 30 years
Ms. Phillips did request that when considering new programs look at the programs that already exist in the community. She mentioned that her office is located in Downtown Barrie and has walked by herself and does not feel uncomfortable, but indicated she still feels scared sometimes as she does not know who is around the corner, which is the reality. She described assisting individuals from the out of the cold program that has lived on the streets, feeding and even helping them bathe, sitting in the hospital while they pass away, and never feeling uncomfortable.
Ms. Phillips concluded that nobody wants to stigmatize, but that it is a society that stigmatizes, and that there are a lot of people in attendance that may have the financial means to help.