Essa Township and the County of Simcoe have issued a joint statement to provide clarity about the County’s Temporary Family Shelter Program, also known as the Motel Voucher Program (MVP), following recent public concerns about encampments in Barrie.
The Family Shelter Program is a long-standing emergency service that provides safe, short-term accommodations for families experiencing homelessness. It prioritizes families with children, offering dedicated supports to help them transition to permanent housing. While 96% of participants are families, single adults may be assisted in exceptional cases when medical or safety needs cannot be met through other shelters. The program is part of the County’s 10-Point Homelessness Prevention Strategy, launched in 2023.
The program is administered regionally, ensuring equitable access across Simcoe County communities such as Barrie, Collingwood, Orillia, Midland, Alliston, and Essa Township. Motels are longstanding partners in delivering temporary shelter supports, but they are not used as relocation sites for individuals from encampments. As of October 1st, the program is supporting 276 individuals, including 123 children, 15 youth, and 138 adults/parents.
Officials emphasized that placement decisions consider safety and community context. For example, motels near schools are reserved for families with school-aged children, while individuals with more complex health needs are not placed in areas where risks could arise. In Essa Township, motels involved in the program serve only vulnerable families with children.
Both Essa Township and the County of Simcoe confirmed there are no plans to move individuals from Barrie encampments into Essa Township motels. Residents with questions about the Family Shelter Program can contact the County of Simcoe at CommunityServicesDepartment@simcoe.ca.
Real-time data on shelter usage is also available here.
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