Crombie to Tackle Poverty, Homelessness with Mayor’s Advisory Board

Mississauga – Tonight I am announcing the launch of the Mayor’s Advisory Board on Poverty and Homelessness, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said.

“This Advisory Board will bring together community leaders to find practical Mississauga-based solutions to combat homelessness, hunger, poverty, and address affordable housing challenges; as well as to support our local food banks,” Crombie said. “We will work toward developing targeted strategies that will help lift youth, seniors, families and newcomers out of poverty,” Crombie added.

Crombie made the announcement while participating during the United Way of Peel Region’s Longest Night Peel – an effort where participants sleep overnight in their cars to raise awareness and funds to combat poverty and homelessness. Mayor Crombie, who raised over $1,700 thus far for the Longest Night Peel, is sleeping overnight in her car at Mississauga’s Celebration Square. Crombie was joined by a team of participants including Shelley White, President and CEO, United Way Peel Region.

The following community leaders will join Mayor Crombie as advisor:

• Aamna Ashraf, Director, Peel Newcomer Strategy Group
• Bill Crawford, Executive Director, Eden Community Food Bank
• Jennifer Evans, Chief, Peel Regional Police
• Kulvir Gill, Co-Founder, Seva Food Bank
• Douglas Kwan, Mississauga Community Legal Services
• Dan Meadowcroft, T’was the Bite Before Christmas
• Janet McDougald, Chair, Peel District School Board
• Humphrey Mitchell, Executive Director, Peel Children Centre
• Dr. Colin Saldanha, Healthcare Advocate
• Anita Stellinga, Vice President, Community Investment, United Way Peel Region
• Emad Tadros, Managing Director, St. Mary’s Food Bank
• Edna Toth, Chair, Peel Poverty Action Group
• Andrew Whittemore, Director, Policy & Planning, City of Mississauga
• Shelley White, President and CEO, United Way

Mayor Crombie will announce additional Advisory Board members in the coming weeks. An inaugural meeting will follow shortly after. All Councillors are invited to participate in these important discussions. Mayor Crombie will also provide ongoing updates to City and Regional Council about the work and recommendations brought forward. The Advisory Board will draw from recommendations made in Peel’s Housing and Homelessness Plan as well as the Peel Poverty Reduction Strategy with the goal of generating Mississauga-based solutions through the implementation of pilot projects.

This week leadership from T’was the Bite before Christmas – an annual charitable cause that raises funds and collects food for local food banks – announced Mayor Crombie will serve as their 2015 Honorary Chair.

“Over 59,000 Mississauga residents use a food bank every month, and I am committed to doing everything I can to raise awareness, get action and achieve results to combat hunger and poverty here in our city,” Crombie added.

Crombie concluded “We can and must do more until every resident in our community has an equal opportunity to succeed and prosper. I look forward to achieving real results to improve the quality of life for Mississaugans.”