As much as Barrie Out of the Cold was once considered a temporary solution for those who could not find a shelter bed, the increased number of homeless people has, over the past several years, made this program a necessity. Every effort is made to ensure that nobody has to spend the night outside but a better, long term solution needs to be found. A mat on a basement floor with a stranger sleeping beside you is not the answer to homelessness.
Our wish is that homelessness, hunger and poverty no longer existed, but, as long as people seek food and shelter, we hope that this program can be there for those who need our assistance.
The Barrie Out of the Cold program provides guests with a hot dinner, breakfast and a place to sleep from mid November until the end of April. BOOTC is indebted to the six host churches and to the over one thousand volunteers.
PROGRAM STATISTICS (Although the program has been in place since 1998, accurate statistics have only been kept since 2000)
| Season | Days/Weeks | Meals | Overnights |
| 1st season: Jan 1998-Apr 1998 | 2 nights per week for 12 weeks | N/A | N/A |
| 2nd season: Nov 1998-Apr 1999 | 5 nights per week for 20 weeks | N/A | N/A |
| 3rd season: Nov 1999-Apr 2000 | 5 nights per week for 20 weeks | 5,791 | 1,146 |
| 4th season: Nov 2000-Apr 2001 | 6 nights per week for 20 weeks | 5,804 | 1,953 |
| 5th season: Nov 2001-Apr 2002 | 7 nights per week for 20 weeks | 9,841 | 3,471 |
| 6th season: Nov 2002-Apr 2003 | 7 nights per week for 24 weeks | 14,000 | 3,164 |
| 7th season: Nov 2003-Apr 2004 | 7 nights per week for 24 weeks | 19,270 | 4,495 |
| 8th season: Nov 2004 - Apr 2005 | 7 nights per week for 24 weeks | 19,826 | 3,655 |
| 9th Season: Nov 2005 - Apr 2006 | 7 nights per week for 24 weeks | 13,658* | 3,360 |
| 10th Season: Nov 2006 - Apr 2007 | 7 nights per week for 24 weeks | 3,950* | 3,950 |
| 11th Season: Nov 2007 - Apr 2008 | 7 nights per week for 24 weeks | 4,194* | 4,194 |
| 12th Season: Nov 2008 - Apr 2009 | 7 nights per week for 24 weeks | 2,651* | 2,651 |