For the second time under Mayor Alex Nuttall’s tenure, Barrie has made national headlines over homelessness — this time following the brutal killing of two encampment residents.

The city previously drew national attention when it attempted to penalize people for providing food and essential services to those experiencing homelessness. Now, the focus has shifted to the Flat Rock encampment near Victoria Street, the site of the recent murders. The encampment has since been closed due to environmental and safety concerns, but the housing crisis continues to deepen.

At a recent executive committee meeting, council and staff acknowledged that cleaning up the site will cost millions. Officials identified serious risks, including propane tanks and waste near waterways. Of the 80–100 people living there, only six accepted shelter spaces. The rest dispersed across the city.

Councillors expressed frustration at systemic failures — from housing shortages to weak health responses and gaps in environmental protection. Some pushed for long-term solutions like rent-geared-to-income housing and a framework for encampments near sensitive areas. Nuttall called for an external review, but many admitted that limited local resources and weak provincial support leave the city without effective tools.

City staff also faced criticism over their explanations. Officials claimed they could not act until police cleared the site or until shelter spaces were secured, yet smaller encampments had been dismantled without police involvement, and the county assembled shelter beds only when pressed. Charter rights were cited as barriers, but council largely ignored their duty to protect public health and the environment. The health unit refused to assess conditions onsite, and there was no system to track why shelter offers were declined, leaving responses reactive rather than informed. Staff further admitted there is no framework for prioritizing encampments near high-risk areas, saying it was “too early” for lessons learned, despite this being the city’s second major crisis.

To better understand what led to this tragedy, Simcoe Community Media is speaking with residents, community leaders, activists, and healthcare experts. Volunteer civic journalist Christine Nayler recently sat down with Ash Pineau, a street outreach worker with Ryan’s Hope.

Pineau stressed the importance of supporting encampments with basics like porta-potties, garbage collection, and designated safe locations. Such measures, he argued, maintain dignity, improve sanitation, and ensure outreach workers can connect with people while fostering safety and accountability. Most importantly, they create a bridge between housed and unhoused populations — a step toward healing and lasting solutions.