Homelessness, Encampments & Policing Downtown

Welcome back to What Barrie’s Talking About - the podcast that digs into the local stories shaping our community. This week, host Dan Blakeley and the Barrie 360 team take a hard look at homelessness, encampments, and what’s being done to address them in Barrie. Barrie’s Homelessness Crisis Like many cities across Ontario, Barrie is grappling with a growing homelessness crisis. The issue has come to the forefront this summer after the deaths of two men at an encampment, followed by a new camp forming outside the courthouse downtown. Mayor Alex Nuttall joins Ian Maclennan to discuss what the city is doing now, what it wants to do next, and the challenges in finding solutions that work. The Busby Centre’s Perspective Across the street from Barrie’s City Hall sits the David Busby Centre, where staff see the reality of homelessness every day. Executive Director Sara Peddle shares her perspective on the courthouse encampment, what support is being provided, and why finding lasting solutions isn’t simple. Downtown Policing Initiative Barrie Police have been testing a new initiative downtown this summer aimed at improving safety and reducing issues connected to homelessness. While no one expects a quick fix, there have been some encouraging signs of success. We get the details on what’s working so far. Listen to the full episode now to hear these important conversations. Subscribe to What Barrie’s Talking About on your favourite podcast platform, and don’t forget to rate and review. For more local stories, follow us on Bluesky and X at @Barrie360, or visit Barrie360.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices