Poverty in Peel at a glance
Statistics show that poverty in Peel is complex and multi-dimensional.
We define poverty as:
Peel individuals and families experiencing poverty struggle due to limited access to income, support, and resources. Poverty is not only about income, but also the inability for individuals and families to live independently, focus on wellness, and be involved in community life.
Poverty continues to be a complex and multi-dimensional issue in Brampton, Caledon, and Mississauga.
We know this from:
- People's experiences.
- Wait lists for affordable housing.
- The number of individuals and families using shelters and food banks.
- The number of people accessing subsidized programs.
- Shrinking middle class neighbourhoods.
- The change in the average individual income for people aged 15 and older.
- The rise in precarious, unstable employment, particularly for racialized groups.
- The rise in housing, childcare, and food costs.
What is Poverty in Peel
Lived experience voices
Community Leaders Voices
Demographics
- In Peel, 198,930 or 13% of the population live in Poverty.
Employment
- Unemployment rate in Peel is 6.7%, higher than Ontario’s rate of 6.0%.
- Youth (15 to 24 years) Unemployment rate in Peel is 15.6%, higher than Ontario’s rate of 11.7%.
Income support
- 28,387 persons receive Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefit as of December 2024.
- 25,000 or more of Peel’s population are in receipt of Ontario Works (OW).
- 61% were single person households.
- 10% of overall caseloads are youth.
- Single individuals receive $733 per month in Social Assistance benefits.
Child care
- In Ontario, the annual income cut-off for families to receive full child care subsidy (at no cost) is $20,000.
- 79% of children who are in receipt of subsidies, receive $10 or less a day for care. Even with the Canada Wide Early Learning Child Care (CWELCC) program, many families would still be unable to afford child care without financial assistance.
Housing
- 1 in 5 households, about 97,000, in Peel have to choose between housing and other necessities.
- Households need to earn $40 an hour to be able to afford average rents.
- Households that immigrated to Peel within the last 5 years are 150% more likely to be in Core Housing Need.
Food
- In 2023, 22.9% of residents experienced marginal, moderate or severe food insecurity.
Living wage
- Peel Region’s 2024 living wage rate was $26.
Data
- Statistics Canada, Tax- Filers Census Family Low Income Measure (LIM), 2022.
- Peel Region, Volume 1, part A: Executive Summary and Budget Overview, 2024.
- Peel Region Council Report: March and June 2024.
- Ontario Living Wage Network, 2024.
- Household Food Insecurity Snapshot, Public Health Ontario, 2024.
- Peel Region Council Report: March and June 2024.
- Ontario Living Wage Network, 2024.
- Household Food Insecurity Snapshot, Public Health Ontario, 2024.