Poverty In the Peel Region

Peel Region is the second largest municipality in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and is made up of Caledon, Brampton and Mississauga.Boasting a population of more than 1.4 million residents, Peel Region is one of the fastest-developing and diverse regions in the country (1) . With this growth and development, many residents have prospered from the changes; however, many have not experienced these changes in the same way. According to the 2018 Peel Poverty Reduction Strategy Report, in 1980, only 2% of Peel neighbourhoods were considered low-income, and as of 2015, over half (52%) we considered low-income. This finding demonstrates the degree to which the gap between rich and poor has grown in Peel.

For a snapshot of what poverty in Peel currently looks like, please take a look at this infographic included in the Peel Poverty Reduction Strategy Report (2018):

This increase in income inequality in Peel has a marked impact on the socio-economic well-being of the residents affected by and experiencing poverty. As income has been identified as an important social determinant of health (2), those experiencing poverty are at a great disadvantage in terms of their quality of life, health and access to support and services.