Understanding youth poverty through youth voices
Youth across Peel experience poverty in different ways. Rising costs, housing challenges, financial pressures, education, employment, transportation, and access to services can all affect the choices and opportunities available to youth.
The Youth and Poverty Research Project is a youth-led research initiative that aims to better understand how poverty impacts young people and identify practical solutions that can improve policies, programs, and services across Peel.
Help us shape a better future for youth in Peel
We’re inviting youth 15 to 24 years that live in Brampton, Caledon, and Mississauga to share their experiences, perspectives, and ideas for change.
Take a short survey
Youth are invited to complete a brief survey that explores:
- Financial stress
- Basic needs
- Daily trade-offs
- Coping strategies
- Experiences navigating services and opportunities
Complete the survey and you'll be entered to win one of ten $50 gift cards.
Participate in an interview
We are looking for youth who would like to share more about their experiences. Your story can help shape future programs and supports for youth.
Complete a one-hour interview and receive a $50 gift card.
Email poverty@peelregion.ca to register for an interview.
Share your story through photos
Share your experience through photos and stories.
Submit a photovoice entry and be entered into a draw for one of ten $50 gift cards.
Being a young person today comes with unique challenges, especially when financial pressures affect everyday choices and opportunities. This project focuses on understanding the financial pressures, difficult trade-offs, and pathways that shape the experiences of youth across Brampton, Mississauga, and Caledon.
We're exploring topics such as:
- Financial stress and meeting basic needs
- Trade-offs and decisions young people make when money is tight
- How poverty affects access to education, employment and other opportunities
- Experiences accessing community services, programs, and supports
- Solutions that could better support youth experiencing poverty
We recognize that youth are experts in their own experiences. This is a project about youth, led by youth through the Peel Poverty Reduction Committee's Youth Advisory Table.
Together, we aim to amplify young people's voices and the solutions they want to see in their communities.
This project is supported by Peel Poverty Reduction Committee’s Youth Advisory Table that plays a leadership role throughout the research process. Youth advisors help:
- Refine research tools
- Support data collection
- Interpret findings
- Develop recommendations
Share results with the community and decision-makers
Participation is voluntary.
All information collected through this project will be kept confidential and handled according to applicable privacy and research ethics requirements. Findings will be reported in a way that protects participants' identities.
For more information, refer to Peel Region’s privacy statement
For questions about the survey, interviews, photovoice activities, or the research project, contact our team at poverty@peelregion.ca
Follow us on Social Media
- Instagram: @peelpoverty
- X: @peel_poverty
- LinkedIn: Peel Poverty Reduction Committee
