Bruce County Introduces Homelessness & Encampment Protocol, But Key Details Remain Unclear
A new homelessness and encampment protocol has been introduced in Bruce County, though details on costs, implementation and current encampments were not provided.
Bruce County has introduced a new Homelessness and Encampment Response Protocol intended to guide how municipalities and partner agencies respond to homelessness. However, key details about how it will work in practice including costs, enforcement, and the number of encampments have not been disclosed.
The protocol, announced March 19, was developed collaboratively with local municipalities, emergency services, and community partners.
The County says it is intended to create a more coordinated and consistent approach to responding to encampments and connecting individuals with housing and support services.
Focus On Coordination & Services
According to the County, the protocol is designed to:
Coordinate responses to encampments
Promote safety for individuals and the broader community
Connect people experiencing homelessness with services and housing
Clarify roles among municipal staff, emergency services, and service providers
In a statement, Bruce County Warden Luke Charbonneau said the approach is intended to create “clear pathways to housing and support” through collaboration between agencies.
What Changes In Practice
In response to questions from Owen Sound Current, County staff said the protocol provides “a clear and aligned approach” and outlines responsibilities among responding agencies.
However, the County did not provide specific examples of how responses on the ground will differ from current practices.
While the protocol outlines steps such as notification, engagement, and ‘transition and resolution,’ it does not define when encampments would be removed or what criteria would trigger that process.
A staff report to County council states there are ‘no financial, staffing, legal or IT considerations associated with this report,’ and no cost estimate has been provided. A County spokesperson said costs will vary depending on individual situations and services accessed.
Similarly, staff did not provide figures on how many encampments currently exist in Bruce County, saying only that they are aware of encampments and that outreach is ongoing.
The County says it will continue working with municipalities and community partners on homelessness through coordinated planning, support services, and efforts to connect individuals with housing.
The protocol will be piloted through the second quarter of 2026 before being finalized, according to a staff report to council.
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