Barrie Cares announced today that TD Bank Group has donated $35,000 to support the first phase of the Barrie Campus of Care, a coordinated community initiative designed to provide immediate, compassionate support to individuals experiencing homelessness.
Phase One of the Campus of Care will open later this year at the former Paramedic building at 113 Tiffin Street. The temporary site will include a kitchen and dining area, warming space, urgent care service rooms, and connections to local health, housing, and community supports. Adjacent to the building, the County of Simcoe will provide forty temporary bridge-housing units, creating a seamless pathway from crisis to stability.
The $35,000 donation from TD will help fund the essential infrastructure upgrades required to ready the Tiffin Street facility for winter 2025.
“We recognize that homelessness in Barrie is a significant and growing challenge that needs a coordinated, community-wide response,” says TD Senior Vice President Nupi Zubair. “That’s why TD is proud to support the work of Barrie Cares and the first phase of their Campus of Care initiative with a donation of $35,000 that will provide immediate support to those in our community who need it most.”
Maria Cernak, Chair of Barrie Cares Fundraising Committee, says the contribution demonstrates the power of corporate leadership in driving meaningful community change.
“TD’s support helps us take a critical first step. Phase One creates a warm, safe, coordinated space where people can connect with health care, food security, service navigation, and stabilizing supports. When business, government, and community partners move together, real solutions become possible.”
Barrie Cares serves as the lead agency under the City of Barrie’s Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan and is responsible for coordinating partners, including the City of Barrie, County of Simcoe, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, Canadian Mental Health Association Simcoe County Branch, Georgian College, Barrie Police Service, and the Barrie Chamber of Commerce.
Phase One is part of a broader multi-year strategy to design, fund, and build a permanent 30,000-square-foot Campus of Care: a centralized intake and assessment hub that will provide health, housing, mental health, addiction, and social supports in a single coordinated system.
Photo at the Paramedic Building at 113 Tiffin. From left to right: Jamie Massie, Dino Melchoir, John Alousis, Liz Grummett, Barb White, Jennifer Dabarno, Craig Nixon, Michael Grube, Anthony Firetto, Han Tran, Brunella Southwell, Mina Fayez-Bahgat, Daniela Nedelkovski, Emily Marks, Cathy Charlton, Maria Cernak and Paul Markle.
Quick Facts
- $35,000 donated by TD Bank Group to support Phase One infrastructure
- $250,000 total required to prepare the temporary Campus of Care site
- 40 bridge-housing units provided next door by the County of Simcoe
- Permanent Campus of Care planned for 2028
- Barrie Cares is the lead agency under the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan
Learn more or donate: www.barriecares.ca
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