Simcoe County joins campaign to house 20,000 homeless people

By Sara Carson Barrie Advance 

This fall, trained volunteers will hit the streets in search of Simcoe County’s most vulnerable homeless residents.

The goal is to connect all of them with housing and community support services by July 1, 2018.

“There are a lot of folks experiencing homelessness in Simcoe County,” said Sara Peddle, chairperson of the Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness (SCATEH). “Our shelters are full, the waiting list for social housing is years and our housing resource centres are busting at the seams trying to find appropriate housing for people.”

Among those they are trying to help is Sidney Dolson, who has lived on the streets of Barrie for more two months. Dolson is on Ontario Disability Support and can spend $1,000 a month on rent, he said.

“It’s not that I can’t afford it. It’s very hard to get housing everywhere. I’m trying not to resort to these rooming houses, but I might have to,” he said.

Until he finds a home, Dolson will sleep in outdoor locations throughout the city. He spends his days at The David Busby Street Centre in Barrie where he can shower and is provided with meals, clothes, counseling and housing support.

“There’s a lot of good people out here,” Dolson said.

The County of Simcoe’s plan is part of a national movement led by the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness to house 20,000 of Canada’s most vulnerable homeless people within three years. To date, 21 communities have joined the movement.

On Aug. 25, Simcoe County council approved a one-time $20,000 grant to The David Busby Street Centre in Barrie to co-ordinate the local campaign, which includes holding a registry week. During registry week, trained volunteers will hit the streets to survey homeless people. They’ll be asked about their chronic health issues, mental health, drugs, police involvement and hospital visits.

“We’re getting closer to those who are homeless, so understanding who they are, what they need and what their preferences are,” said Warden Gerry Marshall.

Simcoe County aims to create 2,685 affordable housing units by 2024.

The 20,000 Homes Campaign differs from work the County of Simcoe has already done on homeless in our community, said Doriano Calvano, the county’s manager of social policy and planning.

The campaign focuses on housing homeless individuals with complex needs who experience chronic homelessness, or who are at risk of dying from the effects of homelessness. Through the survey, the county will determine who is most vulnerable and what type of social supports they need.

“There is a lot of research that says you need to find the right mix of programs and services and housing support levels for people to be successful in housing,” Calvano said.

With finite resources available for the homeless sector, the campaign ensures the county focuses on individuals most in need, he said. This could involve engaging providers of mental health and addictions support, health care, primary care and employment services.

Data collected through The 20,000 Homes Campaign should be released in January, Calvano said.