Peel is one of the fastest growing regions in Ontario, yet it faces an underinvestment in critical services such as housing, healthcare, and other social services. With this persistent underfunding, vulnerable groups have to wait longer to get access to essential services, including safe housing. Around 99,800 households in Peel are in core housing need, which means housing that “falls below at least one of the indicator thresholds for housing adequacy, affordability, or suitability, and would have to spend 30% or more of its total before-tax income to pay the median rent of alternative local housing that is acceptable.” Peel only has a total of 14,292 social housing units for its population, which leads to longer wait times for safe and affordable housing.
Stable housing is a large determinant of health. At a recent knowledge translation event on June 8, the Family and Child Health Initiative (FCHI) research team emphasized health inequity in the region of Peel, finding that racialized and vulnerable communities experience disproportionate health disparities shaped by structural barriers and inequality. The presentation opened with remarks from Brampton South MP Sonia Sidhu, who congratulated the organizers and highlighted the importance of collaboration in improving community health outcomes.
In their presentation, they highlighted housing as a key social determinant of health. They noted that the underfunding of social services in Peel manifests as a form of structural racism, where racialized communities are more likely to face unequal access to housing and healthcare. This goes to show that housing and healthcare are inextricably linked, as addressing housing is required to improve health outcomes and equity.
Additionally, housing availability does not always mean accessibility, especially when support is not designed for individuals with complex needs. People living with disabilities are more likely to experience housing insecurity or homelessness due to a lack of social supports. The underinvestment in Peel is affecting unhoused people with disabilities the most. Despite these challenges, community organizations and non-profits are working hard to address the gaps left by the underinvestment in Peel. However, to effectively mitigate existing gaps, there must be increased funding for infrastructure for affordable housing and accessible healthcare.