Leaders and community organizations across Peel Region are calling for urgent, coordinated action to better support survivors of intimate partner violence following the Break the Cycle Summit: Centering Housing Solutions in Response to Gender-Based Violence, held June 19 at Toronto Metropolitan University in Brampton.
Advanced through a motion brought forward by Regional Councillor Rowena Santos at Peel Regional Council, together with the Peel Committee Against Women Abuse, the Summit focused on one of the biggest obstacles in supporting survivors trying to escape gender-based violence, intimate partner violence and human sex trafficking: housing.
“The work being advanced across Peel is about moving beyond awareness and focusing on real housing solutions for survivors of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence,” said Councillor Santos. “Survivors cannot be expected to leave unsafe situations without safe and stable housing to go to. This is about creating real avenues to safety, stability and dignity, so survivors and their children are not left to navigate crisis alone. We cannot address this crisis without addressing housing, and the Break the Cycle Summit gave us a stronger foundation to carry that work forward.”
– Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5 Brampton
Councillor Santos has been a consistent advocate in Peel’s response to gender-based violence and intimate partner violence, working alongside Peel Regional Police, community organizations and Council colleagues to strengthen public awareness and support through initiatives such as the Break the Silence campaign.
Her advocacy also helped advance the 2023 declarations of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence as an epidemic at The City of Brampton and Peel Regional Council, reinforcing the need for urgent action, stronger support and increased investment from provincial and federal governments.
The Summit brought together service providers, housing leaders, system partners, developers and, importantly, individuals with lived experience to identify practical, high-impact solutions that move survivors from crisis to long-term safety and stability.
Summit participants shared deeply personal accounts of the barriers they face, including gaps in affordable housing, limited shelter capacity, and challenges navigating complex systems while experiencing trauma. These voices reinforced the need for a seamless, survivor-informed pathway that connects housing, mental health, and social supports.
The Summit also highlighted the strength of Peel’s partnerships with community organizations, which provide essential, frontline services to survivors every day.
“After many years working closely with our community partners, I know that they are the backbone of this work,” said Peel Councillor, Rowena Santos. “Their expertise and commitment to survivor-centred care are critical to building solutions that truly work.”
Representatives from municipal, provincial, and federal governments participated in the discussions, underscoring a shared commitment to collaboration and long-term system change.
“What we heard at the Summit is that survivors are navigating a system that is often fragmented and difficult to access at the very moment they need it most,” said Nancy Polsinelli, Commissioner of Health Services at Peel Region. “Our responsibility now is to turn these insights into action, together.”
While the Summit created space for important dialogue, organizers emphasized that its success will be measured by what happens next.
Key Outcomes
The Summit identified 3 priority areas for immediate action, including:
- Advancing a coordinated, survivor-informed housing pathway from crisis to stability.
- Strengthening integration across housing, mental health, and social services.
- Improving system navigation to reduce barriers and delays for survivors.
At the most recent Regional Council, Councilor Santos joined Councillor Hart in tabling a motion for immediate action related to emergency shelters and advocacy to other orders of government. A more detailed summary of outcomes and next steps will be shared with stakeholders and Regional Council in the coming months.
