BarrieVotes.ca 2026 municipal election

Encampments and homelessness

Barrie's mayor declared a state of emergency over homelessness and addiction on September 9, 2025, and it remained in effect as of this page's last check, August 18, 2026. The City counts 705 people experiencing homelessness. Almost every dispute about this issue turns out to be a dispute about what is being counted.

The figures, and what they are not

The City's own encampments page carries the numbers this site publishes: 705 people as at August 2026 from the shared HIFIS system, two known encampments on municipally-owned land, and 209 encampments "addressed" since the emergency declaration. Each figure and its date is on the homelessness page, which states plainly that every one of them undercounts something. The County of Simcoe's own Point-in-Time count — a County-wide, every-two-years enumeration, the only real trend line available — found 1,080 people homeless across the County in October 2024, up from 722 in 2022; the County itself attributes part of that rise to a better count, not only to more people being unhoused, and that same series is on the homelessness page.

The definitional trap is worth spelling out, because two governments count differently and both publish. The City counts one tent or structure on a property. The County of Simcoe counts outdoor structures actively used overnight by two or more individuals. Neither is wrong; they are answers to different questions, and a comparison across them is meaningless. Both definitions render beside the figures rather than in a footnote.

Source: Creating Safer Spaces: Barrie's Coordinated Approach to Addressing Homelessness & Encampments, City of Barrie. Original document. The City's own operational page, and the primary source for: the State of Emergency declared September 9, 2025 (still in effect); 705 individuals identifying as homeless per HIFIS data as of 2026-08-04; two known encampments on municipally-owned land as of 2026-08-14; 209 encampments "addressed" between the declaration and 2026-08-14; and both encampment definitions verbatim. A live page the City updates on a rolling basis, so the cumulative "addressed" figure changes scope partway through 2026 (see the comparability_note on that indicator series) — figures cite the retrieval date, and the page must be re-captured before any update. Retrieved August 18, 2026.

What "addressed" means, and does not

The count of encampments addressed is a count of municipal actions, not of outcomes for people. It does not say how many of those people were housed, how many moved to another site, or how many appear again in a later count. No retrieved document breaks it down, so this site does not.

Who is responsible for what

This is where campaign claims most often overreach. Housing and homelessness services in this area are delivered by the County of Simcoe as service manager, not by the City. Health and addiction treatment are provincial. The City controls its own land, by-law enforcement, parks, and its contribution to partner budgets. A mayor can declare an emergency and can direct City resources; a council cannot open treatment beds. The HART Hub that opened in Barrie is a provincial programme operated by the County and the City together, described on health care.

What is missing, and why it matters

The County publishes its homelessness figures through dashboards that embed Power BI reports rather than a downloadable dataset, and this site has not obtained the underlying methodology. That gap is not cosmetic: a change in how a count is taken looks exactly like a change in the thing being counted. Until the methodology is in hand, no trend line over the County's dashboard figures appears here. The one exception is the every-two-years Point-in-Time count quoted above: that comparison is the County's own, published with the County's own caveat that part of the 2024 rise reflects a better count — which is exactly the methodology problem this paragraph describes, stated by the counting body itself. Readers should treat any other year-over-year comparison they see elsewhere with the same caution.

Where the election argument actually sits

Given the division of responsibility, the questions a Barrie council can answer are: what the City does on its own land and how quickly; what it funds through the County and partner budgets; whether it pursues designated sites, and where; and what it says publicly about a provincial system it does not run. Those are real disagreements between candidates, and they are separable from the question of how many people are outside, which is a matter of record rather than opinion.

Related: housing, policing, and the figures themselves.

What the candidates have said

Verbatim, attributed, dated. Every passage below is copied exactly from an archived copy of its source — a campaign website, a news article, or the candidate's own social media post — and links to it. Nothing is paraphrased by this site and no for-or-against label is applied: read the words, follow the link. Passages from news coverage say whether they are the candidate quoted, the reporter's reported speech, or the reporter's characterisation.

Compiled in a research batch dated September 11, 2026, reviewed by hand before publication on September 11, 2026. Passages are capped at 60 words. Campaign pages are undated, so only the retrieval date is shown for them. A candidate with nothing located on an issue is listed as such, with the date their sources were checked; a race is shown only once every candidate in it has been checked. See methodology.

Mayor

Alex Nuttall

  • Nuttall pointed to the city’s response to encampments, including declaring a state of emergency in September 2025, providing outreach support before removing tents and enforcing trespassing orders.

    Source: As reported by CompassNews, Mayoral candidates’ visions for homelessness & affordability, August 28, 2026 (paragraph 7). Read September 11, 2026. news reported

  • We need to keep making sure people have an opportunity to get help while continuing to restore safety and order in our public spaces

    Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Mayoral candidates’ visions for homelessness & affordability, August 28, 2026 (paragraph 8). Read September 11, 2026. news

Show 6 more passages

Tanya Saari

  • Nobody wants to see people living in encampments. The question is what we do about it.

    Source: tanyasaari.ca, Home page, pull quote below 'A different kind of leadership'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

  • Supportive housing as the real solution

    Source: tanyasaari.ca, Home page, 'A different kind of leadership', under 'Tanya's approach' (list item). Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Show 7 more passages

  • On homelessness, mental health and addictions, Saari said solutions must focus on partnerships and proven approaches, including supportive housing.

    Source: As reported by CompassNews, Second candidate jumps into Barrie mayoral race, July 9, 2026 (paragraph 17). Read September 10, 2026. news reported

  • My experience in housing has shown me that people are experiencing homelessness for many different reasons

    Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Second candidate jumps into Barrie mayoral race, July 9, 2026 (paragraph 18). Read September 10, 2026. news

  • I don’t think tents in our parks are the answer, but moving people from one place to another isn’t the answer either

    Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Mayoral candidates’ visions for homelessness & affordability, August 28, 2026 (paragraph 15 (under subhead 'Moving people from one place to another isn’t the answer')). Read September 11, 2026. news

  • I would want to understand what the state of emergency is actually accomplishing before making a decision to continue or end it.

    Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: State of emergency debated after full year in effect, September 10, 2026 (paragraph 4). Read September 11, 2026. news

  • What has changed because of it? What additional resources has it brought to Barrie? If it’s helping us move toward solutions, that matters

    Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: State of emergency debated after full year in effect, September 10, 2026 (paragraph 5). Read September 11, 2026. news

  • Ultimately, I want fewer people living outside because we’ve actually helped them find somewhere to call home. That’s how we reduce encampments

    Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: State of emergency debated after full year in effect, September 10, 2026 (paragraph 7). Read September 11, 2026. news

  • There also needs to be a much more co-ordinated approach between the city, the County of Simcoe, the province and community organizations, Saari added.

    Source: As reported by barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: How would mayoral candidates manage poverty, addiction?, September 2, 2026 (paragraph 17). Read September 11, 2026. news reported

Kay Sayer

Show 5 more passages

Russell Tighe

Show 2 more passages

Ward 1

Stefano Agostino

Shaughna Ainsworth

  • Advocate for compassionate, practical solutions that support those experiencing homelessness while keeping our public spaces safe, accessible and welcoming for everyone.

    Source: ainsworth4ward1.ca, Platform page, section '01 Safe and Welcoming Neighbourhoods', third bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

  • My goal is to become a member of Barrie's Homelessness Task Force.

    Source: ainsworth4ward1.ca, Platform page, section '01 Safe and Welcoming Neighbourhoods', fourth bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

  • I advocate for practical solutions to homelessness that balance compassion with accountability. I believe there must be greater provincial investment in mental health and addiction services including treatment to accomplish any meaningful and lasting remedy.

    Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Ainsworth running on safety, accountability in Ward 1, August 25, 2026 (paragraph 10, after the 'Homelessness:' label). Read September 11, 2026. news

Hafiz Rahman

  • Homelessness is more than a housing issue—it is often connected to mental health, addiction, unemployment, and a lack of support.

    Source: votehafiz.net, Home page, 'My Priorities for Ward 1', under 'Helping People Experiencing Homelessness', first bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

  • My goal is to partner with community organizations, employers, and government programs to help individuals access rehabilitation services, receive job training, earn basic workplace certifications, and find stable employment.

    Source: votehafiz.net, Home page, under 'Helping People Experiencing Homelessness Rebuild Their Lives', third bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Pauline Stevenson

  • Affordability, housing, and homelessness are challenges facing communities across Ontario, and Barrie is no exception.

    Source: stevenson4ward1.ca, Home page, priority 04 'Practical Solutions for Complex Issues', first paragraph. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 11, 2026. site

  • City Council has an important role to play in bringing people together, advocating for our community, and supporting solutions that are proven effective, based on research and what’s working in other jurisdictions in Canada and around the world.

    Source: stevenson4ward1.ca, Home page, priority 04 'Practical Solutions for Complex Issues', second paragraph, second sentence. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 11, 2026. site

  • The solutions aren’t easy and will take time, but I will be a strong advocate for the changes we need to make.

    Source: stevenson4ward1.ca, Home page, priority 04 'Practical Solutions for Complex Issues', third paragraph, second sentence. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 11, 2026. site

No published statement on this issue located for 2 candidates. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 11, 2026): Brent Bowser. No campaign website on the City's list: Christian Cadera. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 2

Frank Casera

  • Housing, mental health, addiction and homelessness are complex challenges. They don't have simple municipal solutions, and many of the tools and resources needed to address them sit with the County, Province and Federal governments.

    Source: buildbarriebetter.com, Dignity page, paragraph beginning 'Housing, mental health, addiction and homelessness'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

  • We can enforce laws while creating pathways to treatment, recovery and stability. We can invest in housing and support services while being responsible with the taxpayer dollars that fund them.

    Source: buildbarriebetter.com, Dignity page, paragraph beginning 'We can support people who are struggling'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Shanicka Edwards

  • That means more supportive housing, better access to mental health and addiction services, and stronger outreach, but also clear expectations around public safety, encampments, and the use of public spaces.

    Source: www.voteedwards.ca, Compass News Responses page, answer to 'How should the City of Barrie address homelessness'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

  • We must move people directly into permanent housing, then provide mental-health care, addiction support, income assistance and case management based on individual needs.

    Source: www.voteedwards.ca, Stats & Solutions page, under 'Expand Housing First with Intensive Support'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Show 3 more passages

  • Once accessible shelter, storage and appropriate alternatives are genuinely available, the city should consistently enforce rules against violence, trafficking, vandalism, obstruction and unsafe encampments.

    Source: www.voteedwards.ca, Stats & Solutions page, under 'Combine services with enforceable public-space standards'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

  • 'Homelessness is not a crime, but residents and businesses also have a right to safe, clean and accessible neighbourhoods,' says Shanicka Edwards

    Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Ward 2 candidate says affordability among 'defining issues' this election, September 3, 2026 (Feed summary (article page not archived)). Read September 11, 2026. news

  • Public safety and disorder must also be addressed with both compassion and accountability. We need cleaner and better-maintained public spaces, and co-ordinated pathways connecting people experiencing homelessness with shelter, treatment, supportive housing and long-term stability.

    Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Ward 2 candidate says affordability among 'defining issues' this election, September 3, 2026 (paragraph 7). Read September 11, 2026. news

Craig Nixon

  • Homelessness requires accountability, and real solutions. I'll continue supporting partnerships that expand housing, mental health, addiction services, and transitional supports.

    Source: nix2026.ca, Ward 2 Priorities page, under 'Addressing Homelessness'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

  • 'We will continue to ensure that our streets and parks are safe and are used for what they were intended for,' says Craig Nixon

    Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, 'Incredible' work being done to improve downtown, says Ward 2 incumbent, August 29, 2026 (Feed summary (article page not archived)). Read September 11, 2026. news

  • We will continue to assist the county in creating more transitional or bridge housing to allow people to get off the streets or out of temporary shelters and get the help they need.

    Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, 'Incredible' work being done to improve downtown, says Ward 2 incumbent, August 29, 2026 (paragraph 6, second sentence). Read September 11, 2026. news

Ajmal Noushahi

  • Support shelters and treatment facilities while exploring real community-based solutions to end homelessness in Barrie for good.

    Source: voteforajmal.ca, Platform page, under 'Homelessness & Mental Health'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Tracy Strohm

  • Strohm also called for a more comprehensive approach to homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges, including supervised modular washrooms downtown, expanded supportive housing and additional treatment programs.

    Source: As reported by CompassNews, Ward 2 race heats up, June 24, 2026 (paragraph 22). Read September 10, 2026. news reported

Ward 3

No published statement on this issue located for 4 candidates. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 11, 2026): Amy Courser. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 10, 2026): Ben Hughes. No campaign website on the City's list: Bryan Jones, Ryan Rijo. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 4

Lori Galeazza

  • I will work hard to be part of the solution, but I won't pretend to be an expert on mental health. I want to sit down with the people who have better ideas about how to help this vulnerable part of our community, and get it right.

    Source: lorigaleazza.ca, Home page, quoted paragraph under 'An honest word on homelessness & encampments'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

No published statement on this issue located for 4 candidates. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 10, 2026): Iradat Ahmad. No campaign website on the City's list: Matthew Corbett, Patrick Harriott-Stewart. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 11, 2026): Arif Khan. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 5

No published statement on this issue located for 2 candidates. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 10, 2026): Duarte Da Silva, Robert Thomson. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 6

Nasar George Nader

  • Barrie currently has about 600-plus homeless individuals living unhoused. Most of them are living in tents, under bridges, on the street, bus terminal and other places.

    Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Ward 6 candidate hopes to 'bring residents together' in Barrie, August 27, 2026 (paragraph 13). Read September 11, 2026. news

No published statement on this issue located for 2 candidates. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 10, 2026): Nigussie Nigussie, Christel Pena. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 7

Gary Harvey

  • Public spaces reclaimed through encampment response

    Source: garyharvey.ca, Home page, under 'THE FIVE POINT PLAN', 'COMMUNITY SAFETY', second bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 11, 2026. site

No published statement on this issue located for one candidate. No campaign website on the City's list: Michael Lewis. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 8

Amanda Fellows

  • Practical, evidence-informed responses to homelessness that recognize both community safety and human dignity.

    Source: amandafellows.ca, Home page, 'My Platform', under 'PEOPLE-FIRST LEADERSHIP', second bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

No published statement on this issue located for 2 candidates. No campaign website on the City's list: Samina Alim. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 10, 2026): Jim Harris. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 9

Norm Costello

  • There is a gap in care for people with mental health and or drug abuse issues.

    Source: normcostello.ca, Home page, Platform section, under 'Drug use, homelessness & mental health'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

  • He identified homelessness and drug use as the city’s biggest issue, saying it requires a coordinated plan across municipal, county, provincial and federal governments, and that police need stronger legal tools to remove people impaired by drugs from the street.

    Source: As reported by Frequency News, Barrie Ward 9: Former New Blue Party Official Costello raises communication gap, police budget in bid to unseat Morales, August 3, 2026 (paragraph 6). Read September 11, 2026. news reported

Show 2 more passages

  • ‘Our homeless and out-of-control drug use in our city is a major issue. We need to get it addressed to get our city and beaches back,’ says Ward 9 candidate

    Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Rising taxes, declining core services among top election issues, says Costello, August 26, 2026 (Feed summary (article page not archived)). Read September 11, 2026. news

  • People in Ward 9 have told me they won't go downtown or to our beautiful waterfront because of this issue. The solution is not easy but we need to work hand-in-hand with the county, provincial and federal governments to come up with a strategy and a plan for long-term success.

    Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Rising taxes, declining core services among top election issues, says Costello, August 26, 2026 (paragraph 11). Read September 11, 2026. news

Dave Weingarten

No published statement on this issue located for 2 candidates. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 11, 2026): Sergio Morales. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 10, 2026): Asmar Naveed. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 10

Bryn Hamilton

  • Reclaimed parks and public spaces through a strengthened encampment response, while connecting individuals experiencing homelessness with available supports

    Source: brynforbarrie.ca, Home page, 'Delivering For Barrie' list, tenth item. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Georgy Kapustin

  • Review downtown service concentration. Barrie should examine how concentrated homelessness and crisis services affect safety, businesses, residents, tourism, public spaces, and downtown function.

    Source: georgyk.com, Priorities page, under 'Safe Streets, Real Support', second bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

  • Plan better-managed service hub locations. Service hubs need space, transit access, safety, supervision, cleanup, and operating controls that can be properly managed.

    Source: georgyk.com, Priorities page, under 'Safe Streets, Real Support', third bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

  • Demand measurable support-service results. Support-service funding should be tied to visible outcomes, including shelter transitions, treatment connections, employment placements, public-space cleanup response, and reduced service gaps.

    Source: georgyk.com, Priorities page, under 'Safe Streets, Real Support', fifth bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

No published statement on this issue located for one candidate. No campaign website on the City's list: William Cadeau. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

School board trustees

None of the 19 trustee candidates across 7 races has a located statement on this issue; trustees do not decide it. Their statements are on the education page, and each candidate's own page says what was checked.

Common questions

How many homeless people are in Barrie?

The City counts 705 people experiencing homelessness as at August 2026, from the shared HIFIS system. The County of Simcoe's Point-in-Time count found 1,080 people homeless across the County in October 2024, up from 722 in 2022 — a rise the County itself attributes partly to a better count. Each figure and its caveats are on the homelessness page.

Is Barrie under a state of emergency?

Barrie's mayor declared a state of emergency over homelessness and addiction on September 9, 2025, and it remained in effect as of this page's last check, August 18, 2026.

Who is responsible for homelessness services in Barrie?

Housing and homelessness services here are delivered by the County of Simcoe as service manager, not by the City; health and addiction treatment are provincial. The City controls its own land, by-law enforcement, parks, and its contribution to partner budgets.