Investing in the City of Barrie
Affordable Housing
As of June 30, 2021, approximately 2,443 affordable housing units have been created county-wide. The general target for the creation of affordable housing units identified in the Strategy for the City of Barrie is a total of 840 units. Despite the target being achieved for the city, the County recognizes that the need for affordable housing remains and that urban settings such as Barrie are considered a “draw” for households in nearby municipalities that need housing with close proximity to employment, community services and public transit. During the pandemic, the need for affordable housing has become even more apparent than ever.
Temporary Shelter opens December 23, 2023
For winter 2022, the County of Simcoe, working collaboratively with the City of Barrie, identified 20 Rose Street as a site for a temporary shelter facility to increase the number of overnight shelter beds available to homeless individuals during the coldest months of the year.
Building Affordable Rentals
In response to the growing need for affordable housing across the region, and specifically in the City of Barrie, the County of Simcoe has purchased the land at 20 Rose Street to build approximately 215 affordable housing units. The site is in a central location in the built-up urban area with access to commercial amenities, schools, transit and pedestrian connectivity. If approved by Council, it is anticipated that construction could begin in late spring or early summer of 2024 with possible completion in 2026/27.
Secondary Suites
The Secondary Suites Program provides funding of up to $30,000 per unit for the creation of a secondary or garden suite which is an effective means to increase the supply of affordable housing.
More information on this program and others in affordable housing can be found on our Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention Strategy webpage.
If you are a resident of Simcoe County and wish to learn more about accessing affordable housing supports, click here.
Helping Residents find financial and employment support
Ontario Works
Ontario Works is a program which provides financial and employment assistance to people in financial need. The County of Simcoe Ontario Works Department delivers this program to eligible residents of the County of Simcoe and the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. To find out more about Ontario Works, visit this page.
Finding Employment
Dozens of local companies across a wide array of sectors have earned reputations as the best in the world at what they do, how they do it and what they offer. Innovation is not just a word here; it is a way of life. Explore experiences and job opportunities right here in Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia!
Shelter Systems/Etc.
Through community partnerships and service provider contracts, the County of Simcoe has been able to achieve a more seamless and integrated service for individuals, youth, and families being impacted by homelessness in Simcoe County. Partnership initiatives continuously address the following core service delivery element:
- To move people from the street into emergency shelters
- To move people from emergency shelters into permanent accommodations
- To prevent homelessness by helping people who are at risk of losing permanent housing
Health and emerGENCY SERVICES
Paramedic Services
The County of Simcoe employs more than 360 full- and part-time paramedics that work on the road through a dynamic staffing system referred to as a fluid deployment plan, allowing paramedics to be deployed where they are needed the most at the time.
Anticipated call volume has increased by 5% to around 91,000 calls annually. The cost of Paramedic Services in the cities is shared with the County as a regional service. This structure provides value and efficiencies for the cities, our municipalities and ultimately taxpayers.
The proposed City of Barrie cost related to County of Simcoe Paramedic Services (capital and operational) to serve city residents is $9.3M for 2023. Other Emergency Response Services in the City of Barrie Budget include $29M for Barrie Fire and Emergency Services and $63M for Barrie Police Services.
Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus
The Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus commenced operations in early 2020. Centralizing many Paramedic Services functions at a larger hub and building smaller more cost-efficient posts, more neighbourhoods are able to see a constant Paramedic presence and improved response times. Larger inefficient stations are being replaced with smaller posts placed in strategic locations. This model allows the service to be better positioned to respond to the needs of the community and staff, keeping vehicles and equipment in service longer with little to no interruption due to breakdown.
Supporting our hospitals
In 2018, County Council welcomed representatives from the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance (SCHA) on March 27, 2018 to make its 15-year pledge of $45 million to area hospitals official. This brings the County’s commitment over a 37-year period (from 1994-2031) to $107 million in long-term support.
Royal Victoria Health Care Centre (RVH)
The County of Simcoe has been honoured to provide the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) with over $25 million since 2010.
Connecting our communities and businesses
Road infrastructure
County Road 90
Significant investments have been made to enhance the County Road Network, including the expansion of County Road 90 to a four-lane cross section plus a continuous centre turning lane. This road is a significant part of our network, connecting Barrie to Angus.
Innisfil Beach Road
County Road 21 (Innisfil Beach Road) is being reconstructed to a wider four lane cross section including a paved median with both rural and urban sections as well as improvements to intersections including turning lanes and signal upgrades at intersections with County Road 53 (5th Sideroad), County Road 54 (10th Sideroad) already complete, County Road 4 and the 20th Sideroad. The project includes an off-road trail from the Innisfil Heights area to the 20th Sideroad.
Transit
LINX Transit Service
In August 2018, as part of the County’s Transit Implementation Plan, County Council approved a 5-year, $5-million plan to create LINX Transit Service, linking municipalities across the region and connecting residents to health services, jobs, education centres and retail hubs in other communities.
Routes 1, 2, and 3 all connect residents from within the County’s member municipalities to the City of Barrie.
Lake Simcoe Regional Airport
As one of ten commercially significant regional airports selected by the Greater Toronto Airport Authority to form part of the Southern Ontario Airport Network, the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport is also well-placed to support economic development needs on a larger scale. The investment in the expansion of Lake Simcoe Regional Airport allows Simcoe County to help meet forecasted demands in air service across Southern Ontario and increases the competitiveness of our region, province and country.
investing in our future
Children Services
As the regional service provider for Children Services, the County provides and promotes affordable access to quality child care services that enhance opportunities for early childhood development. A few of the essential services we provide are:
Early Intervention Services
Services for infant and child development, including preschool aged children with special needs are funded in part by the County of Simcoe and delivered by community agencies throughout the service areas in Simcoe County. The Simcoe County Early Intervention Services system provides young children with special needs and their families with a wide range of services and supports to help them develop to their fullest potential.
Child Care Fee Subsidies
Financial assistance for child care fees is available to eligible families within Simcoe County. Eligibility is determined by a standard assessment based on income only.
Quality Licensed Child Care
As a parent, you want to choose the kind of care that will help your child learn and grow. You want your child to be safe and happy. We do too. That’s why the County of Simcoe is happy to oversee licensed child care centres, home child care agencies, and child care providers to ensure that you can trust in your child care providers.
Building Stronger Communities Together
Supporting our Seniors
he County of Simcoe is a rapidly growing region, investing in innovative strategies to foster positive aging and create more sustainable and healthy communities through Long-Term Care and Senior Services. The County’s vision for a state-of-the-art, “60+” adult lifestyle community offering an entire continuum of housing and services combined with a unique opportunity to age in place, became a reality when the Georgian Village campus opened its doors to its residents in 2013 in the Town of Penetanguishene, Ontario. This advanced “age-in-place model” is the future of housing for older adults that provides efficient, comprehensive and accessible services and amenities within a safe and welcoming community environment.
Simcoe Village Campus Redevelopment
The County is currently undertaking a $177M redevelopment of Simcoe Village in Beeton. The campus will provide an additional 34 long-term care beds (a total of 160 beds), and more than 180 seniors housing units/homes (140+ new) for seniors with varying levels of care and support needs.
Supporting Thriving Immigration
Visit immigration.simcoe.ca to learn more about Simcoe County and to connect with your community. Explore the Simcoe County Immigration Portal to learn more about feeling welcome, living, working, learning and doing business in Simcoe County.
The Simcoe County Local Immigration Partnership are a community partnership focused on the development of settlement strategies for newcomers. During the worldwide pandemic, they have provided multilingual resources compiled by the National Settlement and Integration Council, COVID-19 information, resources, and fact sheets.
Welcoming visitors to our communities
Less than an hour north of Toronto, Simcoe County is located in the central portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. Stretching from the shores of Lake Simcoe in the east to Georgian Bay in the west. Come enjoy all of the adventures Simcoe County has to offer! A few of our many trails are listed below. Visit Experience Simcoe County for more details.