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County clarifies homelessness programs and encampment response

October 16, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Essa Township and the County of Simcoe have issued a joint statement to provide clarity regarding the County’s Temporary Family Shelter Program – also referred to as the Motel Voucher Program.

The statement also addresses recent public concerns regarding encampments in the City of Barrie.

The Family Shelter Program is a long-standing emergency shelter service designed to provide safe, short-term emergency accommodations for families experiencing homelessness. It is not a direct response mechanism for encampments.

The Family Shelter Program prioritizes families with young children and offers dedicated support services to help families find permanent housing solutions.

While the program is overwhelmingly family-focused (96 per cent), single adults may be considered in exceptional circumstances, particularly when medical, safety, or health-based accessibility needs cannot be met through other shelter options.

Expanding capacity to support families facing homelessness or currently experiencing homelessness is a key component of the County’s 10-Point Homelessness Prevention Strategy that was launched in 2023.

The Family Shelter Program is regionally administered, meaning placements are not restricted by a person’s current location.

This ensures equitable access across Simcoe County, including communities such as Alliston, Barrie, Collingwood, Orillia, Midland, and Essa Township.

Motel partnerships, including longstanding arrangements, are the primary way the Family Shelter Program is delivered throughout Simcoe County. The Family Shelter Program predates the current encampment enforcement actions being carried out by local municipalities.

Motels across Simcoe County are used to support families requiring temporary shelter and are not designated as direct relocation sites from encampments.

The County of Simcoe takes community context and safety into account when making placements into any of its shelter system programs.

Family Shelter Program motels near schools are used for families with school-aged children. Individuals with more complex health needs are not placed in areas that could pose risks to program participants or the broader community.

Essa Township currently has motels that have been longstanding regional partners in the Family Shelter Program and continue to provide safe places only for vulnerable families with children to stay as they find permanent housing.

The County of Simcoe confirms that there are no plans to relocate individuals from the Barrie encampments into Essa Township motels delivering the Family Shelter Program.

Essa Township and the County of Simcoe remain committed to working together to support vulnerable residents while addressing community concerns.

The County will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available.

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