Arson at Barrie Women's Shelter Displaces Over 40 Residents, One Charged
A 44-year-old woman has been charged with arson after a fire forced more than 40 people from Joyce Kope House in Barrie, Ont. Four were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Fire at Barrie women's shelter leaves dozens without housing
More than 40 residents of a women's emergency shelter in Barrie, Ontario, were forced to flee their home on Sunday morning after a fire that police believe was deliberately set, thestar.com reports.
A 44-year-old woman has been charged with arson in connection with the blaze at Joyce Kope House, located on Maple Avenue. She has also been charged with failing to comply with a probation order. Four residents were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Joyce Kope House is operated by the Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka and serves as both an emergency shelter and a transition home for women in the Barrie area. The agency described the damage as "significant" and said the fire was "heartbreaking."
"Each year, Joyce Kope House provides safety, shelter, stability, and hope to hundreds of women experiencing homelessness, crisis, and unimaginable challenges," the organization wrote in a Facebook post. "For many, it is more than a shelter. It is a place to feel safe, to heal, and to begin rebuilding their lives."
The displaced women have been temporarily relocated, the agency confirmed. The Elizabeth Fry Society is urgently requesting donations of women's clothing, winter gear, personal hygiene supplies, and other essentials. Monetary donations are also being accepted to cover the immediate needs of displaced residents and to fund shelter repairs.
Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)