Barrie Out of the Cold Guests
Our guests are those who need our help.
Every community in Canada has homeless people even if you don't see them on the streets...the "hidden homeless".
More than 80% of Canada's homeless are improperly housed or on the verge of eviction. Many are sleeping in temporary beds - with friends or relatives, in church basements, in welfare motels, in abandoned vehicles and buildings and in other sites away from the public eye.
The homeless guests who visit "Out of the Cold" are extremely grateful for what is provided. A mat on the floor is like staying at a first class hotel when the other option is a park bench in sub zero temperatures. Basic human needs are food and shelter. Our program offers that warm place to sleep as well as a hot meal in the evening and breakfast in the morning.
Special Interests
Click here to read poems that were written by our guests in previous seasons.
The Canadian climate makes it impossible for anyone to survive outside during the coldest winter nights so whether guest numbers are high or low does not affect the operation of this program. Whether we have one guest or many, it is important that we are there to provide that warm place to go.
OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION will be provided at the following locations:
MONDAY: St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
TUESDAY: Bethel Community Church of Barrie
WEDNESDAY: St. Mary's Church
THURSDAY: Barrie Free Methodist Church
FRIDAY: Central United Church
SATURDAY: Collier Street United Church
SUNDAY: Collier Street United Church
Guests will be referred to an "Out of the Cold" location by
Central Intake
Out of the Cold opens at 6:00 p.m. Curfew is at 7:30 p.m.
All guests are subject to the BOOTC Admission Policy and must have a referral form from Central Intake before going to the church hosting for that particular night.
Each guest will receive a hot meal between 6 - 7:30 p.m. and breakfast will be available prior to departure at 7:30 a.m. the following morning.
PLEASE NOTE: Anyone requiring food assistance, who does not wish to stay overnight, should attend the community meal at Salvation Army. The meal is served at 6 p.m. every night of the week.
