Only one homeless encampment was dismantled by the City of Mississauga during the first half of 2025, newly released data shows. The City received 126 encampment inquiries from members of the public and staff completed 222 encampment assessments along with 493 outreach needs assessments.
The City counted an average of 10 active encampments per month and most were classified as small, with 1-2 structures. Only three large active encampments with five or more structures were recorded, one each month from May to July. The city also counted an average of eight inactive encampments per month.
In September city council adopted the Coordinated Homeless Encampment Response for Peel Region, the City of Brampton, the City of Mississauga and the Town of Caledon. This new strategy allows municipalities to remove homeless encampments from most public spaces including sidewalks, playgrounds, sports fields, dog parks, schoolyards, municipal gathering spaces, community gardens and public transit spaces.
Encampments are also banned on construction sites, near critical infrastructure, on floodplains and on significantly sloped terrain.
Prior to any enforcement action, the new Encampment Response protocol outlines various measures that must be taken. These include multiple rounds of visits from an encampment response team made up of Peel Region employees, Peel Regional Police, Fire and Emergency services and Peel Outreach. During these visits encampment residents will be offered services and litter will be cleaned up.
Only after multiple visits, monitoring, and individual needs assessments are completed for encampment residents – including multiple attempts made to encourage them to voluntarily relocate – would an encampment be removed if deemed to be in a “no encampment zone” or otherwise pose a significant health and safety risk.
HAVE YOUR SAY! YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
Do you think the City of Mississauga’s new Coordinated Homeless Encampment Response strikes the right balance between safety and compassion? Should the City be doing more to provide housing alternatives before dismantling encampments? Or is it necessary to enforce stricter rules to keep public spaces safe and accessible for everyone?
Share your thoughts with us at info@mpulse.ca
