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DEPUTATION CONCERNING MOTION 22-G-119, BARRIE POLICE SERVICES BOARD - PAN HANDLING AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
Councillor, G. Harvey declared that to remain in compliance with his statutory obligations under Section 17(3) of the Police Services Act he was unable to participate in the discussions or vote on the foregoing matter. He left the Council Chambers during discussion and voting on the matter.
The following individuals provided Deputations concerning motion 22-G-119:
1. Sarah Tilley, on behalf of the Gilbert Centre and as a citizen of Barrie explained that the issue is lack of affordable housing, not any of the resulting behaviors or activities such as pan handling or sleeping on City property. She emphasized that unless people have places to live that there may not be a solution for homelessness, nor curbing what people may do to survive living on the streets.
Ms. Tilley felt that having the police respond and enforce incidents such as pan handling and sleeping on City streets is not considered the best option and could potentially decrease the safety of those unhoused in the Community.
She discussed the importance of shelters which should be prioritized and recommended that funding be continued for the hotel model pilot program that had been implemented during the pandemic. Ms. Tilley advised that shelters are meant to be a space of transition from one situation to another and they do not have have the resources to help individuals locate affordable accessible housing units as there are not enough accommodations in Barrie.
Ms. Tilley provided an overview of the average rental rates in Barrie. She explained that renting in Barrie is often unattainable for individuals receiving Ontario Works and Ontario Works Study Program payments and this may result in shared accommodations that may be considered unliveable and unsafe and have a potential impact on their mental health and well-being.
Ms. Tilley advised creating encampments reduces the potential ...
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