The city's mayor, Alex Nuttall, declared a state of emergency last month over homeless encampments, citing public safety concerns due to what he described as "lawlessness" on municipal property. Some have moved into other encampments, including the one where Steeves lives with around 40 others near the downtown core. She said the move to clear Barrie's encampments is inhumane and costly for taxpayers. But advocates say the number of shelter beds available in the city is far fewer than the number of homeless people. In another small downtown Barrie encampment, which has been since cleared, Claire O'Connell and her husband had set up their tent after they were forced to vacate another encampment.