Encampments in Peel
Responding to encampments
The Peel Encampments Working Group includes representatives from the City of Brampton, Town of Caledon, and City of Mississauga, along with service providers, community partners, Peel Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police, and other stakeholders.
The working group is bringing a final plan, which will include a policy framework and protocols, to Peel Region Council in summer 2025. Until that time, the working group continues to work collaboratively to respond to homeless encampments in Peel.
Email us if you have any questions about Peel Region's encampment policy framework and joint protocols.
Reporting concerns
Call 311 if you:
- Have concerns about an encampment in Peel.
- See excessive litter in a park or encampment.
Call 911 if you witness:
- Any illegal activity.
- A health emergency.
Do not attempt to handle the situation yourself.
Call the Street Helpline at 1-877-848-8481 if you’re worried about someone living on the street.
What happens when an encampment is reported
Every time someone calls 311 to report a complaint or concern about an encampment in Peel, a process is followed. Our overall goal is to enable encampment residents to be successfully housed and restore public space to its intended use.
Review an overview of how we respond to reports
Monthly encampment data
Includes active encampments, inspections and assessments completed, outreach interactions, and shelter occupancy.
Data reported between March 1 and March 31, 2025
| Category | Measure | Data |
|---|---|---|
Encampment data | Number of encampment inquiries | 57 |
| Number of active encampments | 16 | |
| Number of small active encampments (1 to 2 structures) | 16 | |
| Number of medium active encampments (3 to 4 structures) | 0 | |
| Number of large active encampments (5 or more structures) | 0 | |
| Number of inactive encampments | 6 | |
Hazards, risks and inspections | Total number of risks or hazards mitigated at encampments | 27 |
| Number of encampments with risk level reduced through mitigation actions | 4 | |
| Number of low-risk encampments assessed | 3 | |
| Number of medium-risk encampments assessed | 6 | |
| Number of high-risk encampments assessed | 1 | |
| Total number of encampment assessments completed | 26 | |
| Fire inspections | 21 | |
| Police inspections | 26 | |
| City inspections | 20 | |
| Peel Outreach needs assessments | 71 | |
| Enforcements | Number of encampments removed though enforcement actions | 0 |
We are working closely with the Town of Caledon to monitor encampments. Currently there are no known encampments in Caledon.
Data reported between March 1 and March 31, 2025
| Category | Measure | Data |
|---|---|---|
Encampment data | Number of encampment inquiries | 13 |
| Number of active encampments | 10 | |
| Number of small active encampments (1 to 2 structures) | 8 | |
| Number of medium active encampments (3 to 4 structures) | 2 | |
| Number of large active encampments (5 or more structures) | 0 | |
| Number of inactive encampments | 3 | |
Hazards, risks and inspections | Total number of risks or hazards mitigated at encampments | 16 |
| Number of encampments with risk level reduced through mitigation actions | 3 | |
| Number of low-risk encampments assessed | 3 | |
| Number of medium-risk encampments assessed | 2 | |
| Number of high-risk encampments assessed | 0 | |
| Total number of encampment assessments completed | 16 | |
| Fire inspections | 13 | |
| Police inspections | 16 | |
| City inspections | 13 | |
| Peel Outreach needs assessments | 38 | |
| Enforcement | Number of encampments removed though enforcement actions | 0 |
Data reported between March 1 and March 31, 2025
| Measure | Data |
|---|---|
| Total encampment inquires to outreach | 48 |
| Number of unique individuals served in encampments | 102 |
| Number of encampment residents moved to emergency shelter or overflow | 15 |
| Number of encampment residents moved to permanent housing | 0 |
| Number of refusals to referrals and supports | 18 |
Common reasons why individuals residing in encampments decline support offers
Preference for non-congregate settings: Many individuals prefer not to live in congregate settings due to concerns over privacy, safety, and past trauma.
Unique individual needs: Shelters may have rules and restrictions that do not fully align with clients' unique needs, and there may be limited access to specialized mental health or trauma-informed care, which is essential for individuals with concurrent disorders.
Proximity to resources: Shelters are sometimes located far from essential resources and support networks that individuals rely on, such as medical services and social supports. Staying near these resources is often a priority for individuals seeking stability.
Importance of community connections: For many, leaving an encampment means losing the social connections and support systems they have developed within their community. The potential separation from these networks in a shelter setting can be a significant deterrent.
Data reported between March 1 and March 31, 2025
| Measure | Data |
|---|---|
| Shelter occupancy rate | 112% |
| Total homeless individuals in emergency shelters | 1,298 |
| Total homeless unsheltered | 306 |
| Total homeless population | 1,604 |
Encampment
A temporary outdoor accommodation for people and groups who are unhoused and unsheltered. The encampment has been established often without permission on public or privately owned land.
Encampment inquiry
A service request, question, complaint, or concern about encampments in the municipality (city or town).
Active encampment
A location captured by the site address and park location on public property. Active sites have people living and sleeping there. The site can contain a single structure or tent, or multiple structures or tents clustered together.
Inactive encampment
A location is an encampment site that is confirmed to no longer have people residing there and the site has been removed. The location is captured by the site address and park location on public property. An encampment location may be deemed inactive for several reasons:
- Occupants may have moved to emergency shelter or housing.
- The site has been abandoned for unknown reasons.
- Other unknown causes.
Total number of risks or hazards mitigated at encampments
Encampment sites may pose health and safety risks to occupants and the surrounding community. This data measure captures the total number or risks or hazards mitigated by Peel Outreach, Peel Regional Police, fire and emergency services, or other municipal staff monthly.
Risk or hazard mitigation may include:
- Removal of fire hazards (propane tanks, generators, e-bikes).
- Encampment site relocation to reduce risks.
- Providing sharps containers.
- Litter maintenance, clean-up.
- And more.
Total number of encampment inspections or assessments completed
Includes the total number of encampment inspections and the number of site and needs assessments completed throughout the month.
An encampment inspection is a visit to an encampment site and may be conducted by member of Peel Regional Police, fire and emergency services, or other municipal staff.
Site assessments document risks and hazards of the physical encampment site and evaluate the probability and impact of the risks and hazards, creating an overall risk score. They are completed by Peel Regional Police and fire and emergency services.
Needs assessments document daily and health needs, safety of people and pets living in an encampment, and their willingness to accept housing and social support. They are completed by Peel Outreach each time they visit an encampment site, even if they do not interact with encampment residents.
Encampment risk level reduced through mitigation actions
The number of encampments where an overall risk score was reduced through mitigation actions. Risk mitigation actions include:
- Fire risks
- Unsafe practices or behaviours
- Broken glass or sharps
- Extreme heat or cold
- Flood risks
- Animals
- Health risks
- Biohazard risks
- Others
Peel Outreach interactions with encampment residents
The number of people Peel Outreach workers interact or connect with at an encampment site. This number is not a unique representation of the number of residents at an encampment.