Child Poverty in Peel Region

According to the 2016 Census Bulletin, among the GTA municipalities, Peel had the second highest prevalence of low-income (12.8%). Peel residents under 6 years of age (19.3%) were the most likely to live in low income households.

In Mississauga, child poverty is higher than the provincial and national averages. Nineteen per cent of children aged 0-6 are living in poverty and 17% of children 0 to under 18 are living in poverty in Mississauga alone.

In Peel Region, child poverty of children 0 to under 18 is at an alarming rate of 16%.

Half of Peel’s population of just over 1.3 million is immigrant with 1 in every 4 children of new immigrants living in poverty.

Peel’s 50,000 + single-parent families also have one-in-four children living in poverty

Based on statistics, Peel’s children are more likely to go to bed hungry, wake up hungry and stay hungry throughout the day than in other areas in Ontario.

It is proven children who go to school hungry do not have the capability of concentration and mental alertness required to learn.

To-date Breakfast With Santa Foundation has served over 218,000 meals to hungry children, hosted over 28,000 people for our Christmas Breakfasts “A Morning with Santa” and have supplied over 630 winter coats to children who don’t have appropriate  winter outer gear.

Over 900 back packs full with school supplies have been delivered to children of food insecure families.