New Youth Shelter Set to Open in Brampton
Published January 16, 2017 at 5:40 am
By the end of the month, displaced youth will be able to access the newly minted Brampton Queen Street Youth Shelter.
By the end of the month, displaced youth will be able to access the newly minted Brampton Queen Street Youth Shelter.
Last week, the Region of Peel approved the name of the interim youth shelter that’s set to open in Brampton and officials confirmed that the shelter, though temporary, will open in January.
While the 905 (and suburbs in general) were never closely associated with poverty in the past, activists and community advocates have worked hard to increase awareness of the growth of poverty in Peel. According to a recent United Way report, poverty affects 17 per cent of people and families in Peel (Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon). The report notes that, on any given day, over 222,000 people experience poverty and struggle to afford housing. When it comes to youth displacement and poverty, the problem is serious.
According to United Way’s report, the organization’s Our Place Peel youth shelter helped 247 young people in 2015. While that’s certainly a good thing, the shelter had to turn away 457 youths due to lack of emergency beds.
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Starting this month, Brampton and other Peel youth can access the interim shelter–located at 3458 Queen Street East–and remain there for anywhere from one day to several weeks while support workers either help them repatriate with their families or find alternate accommodations.
The interim shelter will be located in what was once the 7 and 7 Motel.
Although there was much debate over the name of the facility, with many councillors arguing that the term “shelter” is cold and invites stigma, council decided to move forward on opening the much-needed establishment. A new name may be selected once a more permanent facility is found.
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