ABOUT US
The Busby Centre is a community not-for-profit organization working from a non-judgmental approach to advocate for and improve conditions for individuals and families within South Georgian Bay and the County of Simcoe who are experiencing homelessness or at immanent risk.
We focus on reducing the impact of poverty, homelessness, insufficient employment, addiction, and mental health challenges through a variety of services along the housing continuum. From street outreach, drop-in and shelter services through to our trustee, peer development and programs, we aim to remain housing focused as housing is a right for all.
Mission
To innovate, advocate, educate and provide support while navigating the shortest path from homelessness to housing and affecting positive change in Simcoe County.
Vision
To end chronic homelessness and cultivate a community where all people have access to safe, sustainable housing and the resources they need to live healthy, dignified lives because everybody is somebody.
Our Services
OUR HISTORY
The Busby Centre, celebrates it's 31st year in 2024.
Founder, Mandy Hillyard, spent more than two years visiting over 70 churches, businesses, service providers, health care professionals and community members; asking them the same questions she had been asking herself: Are there homeless people in Simcoe County, and if so would a drop-in Centre help? Mandy had a positive response, and an energetic steering committee was formed who worked diligently to create the ‘Barrie Street Centre’.
The Centre continued to grow daily, until they knew it would be a mainstay in our community and now, 31 years later, we are serving over 150 people a day through our outreach and shelter services and we have grown into one of the leading organizations of our kind in the County of Simcoe.
Our most recent accomplishment has been the acquisition of Busby Centre South Georgian Bay in Collingwood which is formerly known as Out of the Cold Collingwood.