The provincewide March to End Homelessness 2 will include a gathering in Barrie on Thursday (Oct. 10) as part of World Homeless Day and World Mental Health Day.
Organizers say the march is part of a provincial day of action to bring awareness to the "worsening housing and homelessness crisis in our communities and country." There will also be events in London, St. Catharines and Kingston.
The Barrie march is hosted by Ryan’s Hope, and Barrie Encampment Support Network and Moms Stop the Harm.
"This provincial day of action is in response to a growing number of people experiencing homelessness and local governments punitive response to dealing with encampments in our communities," says a news release. "We are gathering to bring awareness to this growing emergency and to hold government accountable."
Organizers are calling on all levels of government to "work collaboratively to uphold the human rights of unhoused citizens and for them to begin addressing this nationwide crisis by taking action to begin implementing the recommendations of the Federal Housing Advocate's Final Report."
Here in Barrie, the group will meet at the Spirit Catcher at 5:30 p.m. and march through the downtown core, ending their march at Barrie City Hall, where there will be speeches, a call to action and a community dinner.
"We will be marching in solidarity with other communities across the province. Join us for this provincial day of action and solidarity," says the release. "We march to bring awareness to the growing housing and homelessness crisis in our city. We march in support of our unsheltered community. We march to hold all levels of government accountable for their inaction in addressing this crisis."
The list of speakers include Rev. Christine Nayler, co-founder and director of Ryan's Hope; Cove Brown, community outreach volunteer with the Barrie Encampment Support Network; Anisa Carrascal, co-chair of Simcoe County Healthcare Coalition; and Samantha Loney from the Barrie-South Simcoe Métis Council.
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