Peel opens largest shelter of its kind to serve homeless asylum claimants in the Region

MISSISSAUGA, ON (February 3, 2025) – Peel Region is proud to announce the opening of the Peel Reception Centre in Mississauga, the largest shelter of its kind in Canada, with the capacity to serve 680 homeless asylum claimants in Peel.

Peel Region has proven to be a leader in homeless asylum claimant response during unprecedented pressures on the shelter system. With just over $22 million in funding through the Federal government’s Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP), Peel was able to open the centre in just three months, complete construction in six months, and anticipate completing it $2 million under budget.

COSTI is the service provider at the Peel Reception Centre, responsible for shelter operations on behalf of Peel Region. This is not a drop-in program. Clients will enter the system through Peel Region’s central intake process by phoning (905) 450-1996.

By separating local homelessness from asylum claimant homeless, Peel Region is able to efficiently serve each of these vulnerable populations, and to pilot wrap-around supports and programming in the new facility that meet the unique needs of asylum claimants.

Programming and wraparound services being piloted in collaboration with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at the Peel Reception Centre include:

• IRCC is onsite to provide immigration case management services and coordinated exits to other municipalities through employment opportunities.
• In addition to providing shelter support services, Peel Reception Centre offers on-site settlement services, employment support, housing support, and access to income support programs (Ontario Works).
• On-site external partners include: IRCC, Service Canada, and WCG Employment Agencies (Job Skills, College Boreal).
• The pilot also includes onboarding Legal Aid Ontario, and Public Health Services.

Phase 1 of this project was completed on October 28, 2024, with the opening of the first floor of the building to provide temporary shelter and supports to approximately 88 asylum claimants who were housed in hotels in Peel.

The size and scale of the reception centre function and the level of coordination Peel Region can achieve among municipalities is dependent on both additional federal funding supports and a sustainable national system that scales to meet the needs of asylum claimants in Peel and across the country. Peel Region remains committed to working with IRCC on Canada’s collective response this ongoing challenge and to provide the necessary supports to seamlessly integrate these newcomers into the community.

Media contact

Renee Wilson
Human Services Communications Manager
Peel Region