David Busby Street Centre

Individual Case Counselling
The David Busby Street Centre has experienced case managers who provide individual case management, advocacy (both individual and systemic), and individual and group counselling services. We are able to help people with a multitude of situations including crisis management intervention, mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse, housing, feelings of depression and coping with illness. Our case managers come from a variety of training and certificate backgrounds including but not limited to addictions, mental health, and community services.  We work from an empowerment model by listening to our participants, helping them to discover their own strengths, working with them to find suitable solutions to their problems and referring them to other services available in the community including food banks and housing supports.

Housing Support
The poor grades regarding rental housing availability and affordability referenced the Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness Report Card on Homelessness in December 2009, demonstrate the critical need for housing supports in Simcoe County. Working in collaboration with Barrie Housing Supports, a part time housing worker assists Barrie and Simcoe County residents who are homeless or inadequately housed in applying for, accessing and maintaining stable, affordable housing.  We collaborate with other agencies that provide housing support and we develop and maintain relationships between landlords and perspective tenants to help ensure the ‘right fit’.  We also administer programs to help people with rent and utilities in arrears.

Practical & Basic Needs Assistance
Some of people who use our services arrive on our doorstep with absolutely nothing but the clothes on their back.  We are able to provide showers, personal hygiene items, clothing and shoes, beverages and light snacks, and infant needs. 

Donations from the community make it possible for us to continue to provide assistance to the many people that come to our Centre as well as those who access assistance through our Outreach Van.

Administrative Support
Without identification it is impossible to apply for subsidized housing and income assistance programs (such as Ontario Works), receive appropriate health care and access many other programs and services in Canada.

At the Busby Centre, we help with identification replacement and social insurance number cards for our participants.  Our staff assists participants with their literacy challenges in order to read and complete a myriad of forms required of our participants, and we advocate for funding on their behalf. 

Addiction Support Services
Alcohol and drug addiction is a problem that many people face. Overcoming it requires making major changes to the way they deal with problems and relate to others, it’s not just a matter of willpower or simply wanting to quit.  At  the Busby Centre we have staff on hand with addictions education credentials in order to provide support and referral to the appropriate programs.

Infant Needs/Supplies
The baby supplies checklist can seem endless: bottles, diapers, rash ointment, bibs, gentle baby soap, pacifiers and nasal aspirators are just a few of the costly items parents of very young children need. Over the last several months we have seen an increase in the number of families with babies and infants who use our services and look to us for support with formula, diapers, infant food and numerous other baby items.  Often these families are young and just need a little extra support to get them through the month but do not meet the criteria for other services and resources offered in the county.

Health Services
Our participants have a variety of barriers to access health care. We have a Nurse Practitioner four days per week funding through the Victorian Order of Nurses that helps our participants manage health issues such as nutrition, diabetes and primary health care. We also have a foot care Nurse one day per month contracted through the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) to assist our patients in maintaining good general foot health and manage unexpected foot ailments such as ingrown or troubled toe nails, warts, diabetic ulcers and other skin infections.   

Mental Health Services
We work with many participants who struggle with either diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health challenges.  Our staff works in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association to ensure that those who require support receive the assistance they need.   

Harm Reduction Program
“Harm reduction benefits the community through substantial reductions in open drug use, discarded drug paraphernalia, drug-related crime, and associated health, enforcement and criminal justice costs. It lessens the negative impact of an open drug scene on local business and improves the climate for tourism and economic development.” - Harm Reduction: a British Columbia Guide, developed by the B.C. Ministry of Health. The David Busby Street Centre runs a Harm Reduction Program that includes needle exchange, safe inhalation kits, safe sex education, condoms, sunscreen, etc.  Our Needle Exchange and safe inhalation kits are mandated through the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. We run this program in the Centre and with our Outreach program.

Central Intake for Barrie Out of the Cold

During the winter months between November and May, the David Busby Street Centre (DBSC) is responsible for the Central Intake process for all emergency shelter referrals.  The Central Intake program is accessible through the DBSC Outreach Van between the hours of  5:30pm to 9:30pm.  Central Intake also makes referrals to the volunteer-based organization, Barrie Out Of The Cold which accommodates over flow from full, emergency shelters in Barrie.