New refugee centre will tackle ‘unprecedented’ asylum seeker housing crisis, bring more shelter space to Mississauga and Brampton

More shelter spaces and additional support for refugees struggling with homelessness are coming to help deal with what Ottawa is calling an “unprecedented” number of asylum seekers.

With frigid winter temperatures fast approaching, Peel Regional Council accepted a $7 million funding boost from the federal government on Thursday to build a new reception centre near Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga which will help asylum seekers find housing.

The feds say the new centre will provide more streamlined services and supports to asylum claimants and will also serve as a reception centre for newcomers and a temporary shelter run in partnership with local community organizations which can address the population’s needs.

“With temperatures dropping, today’s announcement comes at a critical time and will ensure those in need have a safe and warm roof over their heads as we enter the winter months,” said acting Mississauga Mayor Chris Fonseca.

The announcement came days after the death of a man Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown called “asylum claimant” whose body was found outside what was once a Peel family shelter in Mississauga.

Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Ottawa will continue to work with the Region and municipalities struggling to assist the increasing number of asylum claimants coming to Canada.

“Everyone deserves the basic right to a safe place to stay and this funding is going to significantly help alleviate the pressures in this region,” Miller said in a statement. “We are confident that with full engagement from all levels of government, we can develop longer­term (sic) options for interim housing outside of the current situation.”

A report to Regional Council in September showed Peel’s shelter system was at 260 per cent capacity with refugees making up close to 60 per cent of the shelter population.

The Region took steps to provide temporary accommodations to people in need but says the temporary measure only put “further financial and operational strain on Peel’s emergency shelter system.”

The federal government has procured temporary accommodations for short-term housing to alleviate the pressure on local shelters with 3,800 temporary rooms across Canada that are providing housing for over 7,000 asylum claimants, Ottawa says.

Ottawa says it has provided almost $700 million to provinces and municipalities through its Interim Housing Assistance Program to address the “extraordinary housing pressures” related to the increased volumes of asylum claimants since 2017.

Mayor Brown thanked the feds for the funding and for taking action to stem what he called a “crisis.”

“Make no mistake about it. This agreement will save lives,” Brown said.