Busby Centre - Barrie, Ontario

Devon S.

Great service when used at own risk. Functioning building when in life emergency situations. Try to provide towel for one's self as per own risk. Thank you to the team and community for constant support.

Mark R.

You have to make sure you're in line ahead of time.staff is very friendly. Sleeping arrangements are on cots the place is completely clean. unfortunately there is limited spots available so there will be a line and if you're not there ahead of time by 7:00 or 6:45 you will have a tough time getting in. They're looking for donations.

Tyler D.

Great location. Keeps those chronically outdoors alive and fed. Really responsive and considerate mobile outreach team. A good place to warm up, meet 60 or so other strugglers and have good conversation before walking the downtown core throughout the day. Right near the library!

The morning breakfast lineup can take a while( 30 minutes and up) but it's a shot of nourishment as you walk the streets all day and burn calories. I'm really thankful it's there to help the downtown homeless. You don't feel judged there.

Northernman

Ruining the city, Staff should be cleaning up after their clients. City of Barrie must spend millions per year cleaning up after the Busby Centres clients.

Jeremy W.

More places like this around town help make it easier for the unhoused drug users and people dealing with mental health issues to access harm reduction services. More places like this means LESS people would be centralized in this one area. Have at least a north and south location as well. This problem isn't going away until we realize it starts WAY before a person finds themselves at the Busby asking for help. It starts at home with whatever unresolved trauma the person can't seem to overcome without the help of an addictive substance. Sometimes the drug use starts AT the Busby unfortunately. Only because you have to be on the defensive ALL THE TIME. A few tokes of side helps you stay up and focused. There are very different and complex reasons people find themselves here. We need more shelters and consumption sites with counselors and easy access to detox and harm reduction materials: compassionate people who are willing to work through other people's trauma with the knowledge that it all starts with simply showing up and treating everyone with dignity. The rest comes with creating honest relationships and accepting the fact that it isn't a war. It's a peaceful mission to help each other.

Gaston

This place is a joke!! I have a of couple family members staying there do to slumlords, and ever since they have been there they’ve been sick, hospitalized, they are recovering opioid users who have been clean for many years & on a program. Now!! The Busby Centre claims that they choose the worst to go to the hotels they provide,which is completely false. The so called government has to do MORE!!! you get sent to the hospital with an pneumonia they release you! Back to the sick infested Busby centre.

natasha F.

Great for the homeless population but bad for the community. Every other day I have people jumping my fence and leaving behind drug paraphernalia on my property. Police are of no help and actually told me, a young mom of 2 small kids, to confront the meth users and ask them to leave my backyard before calling them. I have been following them and they head straight to this center. This is a residential neighborhood and people are scared. Not because people are homeless but because people on drugs don't think clearly. I've had 10 attempted break and enters in the 5 months ive lived in this house, my car cannot be left outside because it's constantly checked. I have built a fence, put in the top of the line security system with cameras and flashing lights, spot lights, and nothing is stopping the influx of people.

Damien W. M.

was here in 2022. in my experience they did absolutely nothing and very little for the community. I did not even get into the shelter and was told to come back for a different time slot 3 times a day on multiple days. a crowd of people was gathered outside every time. the staff simply disregard and disrespect.