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 and protocols, to Peel Region Council in spring 2025. Until that time, the working group continues to work collaboratively to respond to homeless encampments in Peel.
Who to contact
- Email us if you have any questions about Peel Region's encampment policy framework and joint protocols.
- If you're worried about someone living on the street, call the Street Helpline for 24/7 homelessness support at 1-877-848-8481.
- If you see excessive litter in a park or encampment, call 311.
- If you witness any illegal activity or a health emergency, call 911. Do not attempt to handle the situation yourself.
Monthly encampment data
Includes active encampments, inspections and assessments completed, outreach interactions, and shelter occupancy.
Data reported between January 1 and January 31, 2025
| Category | Measure | Data |
|---|---|---|
Encampment data | Number of encampment inquiries | 38 |
| Number of active encampments | 16 | |
| Number of small active encampments (1 to 2 structures) | 14 | |
| Number of medium active encampments (3 to 4 structures) | 2 | |
| Number of large active encampments (5 or more structures) | 0 | |
| Number of inactive encampments | 8 | |
Hazards, risks and inspections | Total number of risks or hazards mitigated at encampments | 11 |
| Number of encampments with risk level reduced through mitigation actions | 1 | |
| Total number of encampment inspections or assessments completed | 112 | |
Fire inspections | 15 | |
Police inspections | 15 | |
City inspections | 20 | |
Peel Outreach needs assessments | 62 |
We are working closely with the Town of Caledon to monitor encampments. Currently there are no known encampments in the Town of Caledon.
Data reported between January 1 and January 31, 2025
| Category | Measure | Data |
|---|---|---|
Encampment data | Number of encampment inquiries | 8 |
| Number of active encampments | 9 | |
| Number of small active encampments (1 to 2 structures) | 8 | |
| Number of medium active encampments (3 to 4 structures) | 1 | |
| Number of large active encampments (5 or more structures) | 0 | |
| Number of inactive encampments | 13 | |
Hazards, risks and inspections | Total number of risks or hazards mitigated at encampments | 13 |
| Number of encampments with risk level reduced through mitigation actions | 4 | |
| Total number of encampment inspections or assessments completed | 161 | |
Fire inspections | 6 | |
Police inspections | 17 | |
City inspections | 24 | |
Peel Outreach needs assessments | 114 |
Data reported between January 1 and January 31, 2025
| Measure | Data |
|---|---|
| Total encampment inquires to outreach | 115 |
| Total interactions with encampment residents in Brampton | 33 |
| Total interactions with encampment residents in Caledon | 0 |
| Total interactions with encampment residents in Mississauga | 77 |
| Number of encampment residents moved to emergency shelter or overflow | 11 |
Data reported between January 1 and January 31, 2025
| Measure | Data |
|---|---|
| Shelter occupancy rate | 124% |
| Total homeless individuals in emergency shelters | 1,360 |
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.