Proposal to expand mens shelter as housing requests up 200% in Mississauga and Brampton
Published January 6, 2023 at 2:38 pm
A lack of affordable housing in Mississauga and Brampton is putting “unprecedented pressures” on the system.
In 2022, affordable housing service requests increased by 200 per cent, according to the Region of Peel 2023 budget report.
The budget report is now out with a proposal for a 2.8 per cent hike in property taxes.
The 2023 budget is looking for an additional annual $9.4 million for operating costs and $169 million in capital projects to address Peel’s housing crisis.
“The housing crisis is placing unprecedented pressures on the affordable housing system,” the budget report reads.
At the end of 2021, there were 28,227 households on the centralized wait list for subsidized housing, an 88 per cent increase from June 2019.
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To address these pressures, Housing Services proposes adding four new full-time positions at a cost of $430,519.
In 2022, shelter occupancy averages were at 117 per cent and the Region of Peel is currently housing over 50 families a week in overflow hotels, in addition to refugees, families from the Ukraine and others facing emergencies.
“Use of overflow hotels for shelter clients and refugees is growing,” the report reads.
More supplies, equipment and staff are required to keep up with the increased volume of work.
An additional three full-time staff members are proposed to manage the shelters and overflow facilities (hotels) in Peel. The shelter costs plus staffing is expected to cost $1.3 million annually.
Another large expense is the proposed plan to redevelop the Wilkinson Road adult men’s shelter in Brampton.
The shelter opened in February of 2001 and is located in the Tomken Road and Steeles Avenue East area of Brampton.
The proposed project would increase the number of beds from 85 to 150 by adding a second floor. The project would also add more accessible beds and washrooms, and improve energy consumption by 40 per cent.
The estimated cost for the project is $16.5 million, plus 30 per cent for contingency, and an additional 10 per cent to meet the Region’s proposed Net Zero Emission building standard for new construction for a total of $23.65 million.
The housing budget plan can be found online here and will be presented to Region of Peel council on Jan. 26.
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