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No child grows up with dreams of being homeless. Alone. Scared. Without food, shelter or money. Without even the comforting hug of a friend.

Yet, for the more than 550 youth who seek our help every year, homelessness seems better than life at home. The majority are escaping physical, sexual and emotional abuse at home.

Our Place Peel is a registered non-profit agency providing shelter, support and hope for homeless and disadvantaged youth aged 16 - 21 in the Region of Peel. Through our emergency shelter, long-term residential support, resource room and community outreach services, we empower youth to take control of their lives, break harmful patterns, and make a healthy, new start.

Our Place Peel helps kids stay in their own community, close to school, jobs, and any family or peer support they have. As the only homeless shelter for youth in Peel, we strive to support as many youth as possible, yet last year we turned away more than 500 kids due to lack of space.

At Our Place Peel, we’re investing in the future of our community and country by providing homeless and disadvantaged youth the confidence and skills to obtain housing, overcome problems of their past and become financially independent.

our history

In 1985, Our Place Peel opened a 6 bed residential program in Brampton for youth who were homeless, without adequate supervision, or living in an unacceptable home environment. This was in response to the community-identified need for services aimed at helping youth at risk of homelessness.

In 1989, Our Place Peel opened a 14 bed emergency shelter in Mississauga to respond to the growing number of homeless youth in Peel. The goal of the emergency shelter and residential program was to keep youth in their own community, close to family, friends, educational supports, and opportunities for employment.

In 2001, we opened the doors to the community with our Resource Room, located in the Emergency Shelter in Mississauga. Here, youth aged 16 to 21 can attend free workshops on budgeting, resumé and cover letter writing, interview preparation, employment standards, finding accommodation, and landlord and tenant issues. We also provide youth with access to a computer, Internet, photocopier, fax, and telephone to assist with job or housing searches and provide information on a variety of other issues, community resources and agencies. In 2006, 1,477 youth visited the Resource Room an increase of 20% from 2005.

In 2006, we implemented our Outreach Initiative: Bridging the Gap between Shelter and Community. With the assistance of our Outreach worker, we have been able to educate many more homeless and at-risk youth in our community about the services and support we offer. Our Outreach officer has also been instrumental in raising awareness about youth homelessness in Peel and promoting relationships with youth-serving agencies in the community.

In 2007, we launched the H.Y.P.E. Project (Helping Youth Prepare Effectively), aimed at helping youth obtain the essential skills they need to re-enter the education system, find employment, complete necessary volunteer hours, and successfully live independently. Participants in the program have access to all the services of Our Place Peel, plus connections to other community resources in Peel.

Our Place Peel continues to be the only emergency shelter in Peel for youth aged 16 to 21 years. As Peel is one of the fastest growing areas in the province, it’s difficult to determine the number of youth who are in need of our services. Since opening the doors of our emergency youth shelter, over 4,000 youth have been provided with housing. Unfortunately, we frequently turn youth away because the beds are full.

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our voices

Anonymous Youth Age 18
My name is XXXXX, a graduated student of a Brampton high school. I will be attending college starting this fall. Meanwhile I stay at Our Place Peel. During my stay here I’ve learned more than you can imagine. Our Place Peel has given me many opportunities as a young adult in the community of Brampton. Since I have been at Our Place Peel I've been able to have a stable life which I wasn't given when I was younger. There are so many things that Our Place Peel provides for young adults who are headed down the wrong path. Yes, at first it was like that for me, because I thought, “Oh! These people don’t really care about me they’re just there to do their job”. But, I was wrong. I could actually come sit down and talk to the staff here at Our Place Peel about the problems and situations that I’m going through in life and they would hear me out all the way and give me excellent advice which I wasn’t able to get from my own parents. Although young adults and teenagers would love to go out on their own because they think life is so much better it wouldn’t be 'cause, no matter what you think, you still need that extra support and that's why I thank Our Place Peel. Without my stay here, I don't know where I would be if it wasn't for the staff and the residents that are here. So for all those young people who are planning to move out on their own, come to Our Place Peel first. To help prepare yourself for the real world because, to be honest with you, it isn't easy!

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our leadership

Board of Directors

Ellen MoritaPresident
As a mother of two young children, I am glad organizations like Our Place Peel exist to help youth navigate their way through difficult choices.  As a Board Member, I am honoured to help guide the agency so that it can be most effective in serving the youth of Peel Region and their families. I am committed to increasing the awareness of Our Place Peel in the community and ensuring that the clients of the agency are provided with the individualized help they need to get on the right track.

Pamala Yudcovitch Vice President
Pamela was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1987, and has been practicing management side labour and employment law since that time.  She currently oversees the labour and employment practice at Pallett Valo LLP, providing a broad range of advice and representation to employers. Her practice includes contract negotiation and collective bargaining, all aspects of labour and employee relations, human rights investigations and tribunal hearings, assisting management with workers' compensation and rate assessment issues, and defending wrongful dismissal claims.

Hanif Ladha Past President
I am very proud to support Our Place Peel in delivering on its goals and objectives. I have been very fortunate to be associated with a TEAM of volunteers, front line staff, management and Board of Directors, both past and present, that is committed and dedicated to building a stronger community for the future; thereby providing opportunities for “at-risk youth” with shelter, counseling and safety through their challenging times.

Andrew Swanson Treasurer

Sophia Reid Vice President
We all have choices in life. I want to help the people and programs in our community create opportunities for the youth who arrive at Our Place Peel to make positive choices. As a Board Member of Our Place Peel, I’m able to gain a better understanding of the issues impacting the youth in my community.

Janice Lepiten Secretary
I feel honoured to be a Board Member of such an important and established organization committed to youth in Peel.  Young people, especially those that are going through a hard time in life, have special needs that can only be met through services tailored just for them.  I look forward to working with the dynamic staff of Our Place Peel to ensure that we continue to assist youth in reaching their goals and improving their lives.

Brandon Fang
I am excited and proud to support Our Place Peel as a member of the Board. I truly believe that, when armed with the appropriate knowledge and tools, vulnerable members of our community can succeed. With the great team at Our Place Peel, I am confident that this goal will be met.

David Prosser
After a long successful career in sales, marketing and communication with Kodak Canada, David took an early retirement option to pursue a second career making a difference in the nonprofit sector. For the past five years he has been working as Development Director for Yorktown Family Services, an agency that operates a children’s mental health centre and a shelter for abused women in one of Toronto’s most at risk and under serviced communities. “Our Place Peel provides shelter, support and hope for at risk and marginalized youth at a time when they need it most. I’m proud and humbled by the opportunity to participate with Our Place Peel’s passionate team of managers, staff, board members and volunteers who are helping young people overcome the challenges that may limit their potential for happiness and success.”

Neil Bobb
We are all faced with unexpected events that affect our lives. The impact can lead to making unhealthy choices the younger one is. I am committed to providing the service required to make the derailed period temporary with the appropriate knowledge, guidance, support and resources gained from Our Place Peel.

Alan Nulle
I am honoured to be a member of the Our Place Peel team. Growing up and working in the Region of Peel for over 40 years I understand many of the challenges and frustrations that effect our youth. I am committed to Our Place Peel and believe in the importance of safe shelter and support to give youth the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. Our Place Peel provides the hope and guidance for success.

Philip Hyland
I chose to be on the board of Our Place peel when I realized the limited services for youth in the Peel region. As young people develop it is critical for them and society as a whole that they have a safe place to go. The safe place must also provide them with the help they need to integrate into society.

My personal background is a resident of Mississauga for 23 years and the father of two children and one grandchild. As my children grew up and I participated in community events I realized that the need for support services is significant and at some stage in our lives either we or our friends will need these services.

Mert Guler

Vito Rizzuto

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our leadership

Executive and Senior Leadership Team

Lana BurchettExecutive Director
Lana joined the Our Place Peel team at the end of September 2009 to fulfill Christy Upshall’s maternity leave to November 1, 2010.  Prior to joining OPP, Lana was the Executive Director of the Family Resource Centre Society for the North Okanagan located in Vernon, BC. She was responsible for working with many internal and external stakeholders to provide counselling programs, support services & education and sustainable funding for the organization. Lana successfully completed the National Fundraising Management Certification Program at Ryerson University in 2003 and has previous experience in event management, marketing communications and media relations.

The opportunity to work at OPP appeals to her as she says, “it is important to me that what I do makes a difference and contributes to changing society for the greater good. With a respect and compassion for others, I hope to generate a force for good that recognizes the limitless possibilities of life.” Lana looks forward to contributing to the continued success of Our Place Peel as it celebrates its 25th anniversary in fall 2010.

Christy Upshall Executive Director (Maternal Leave)
Christy Upshall has been a part of the Our Place Peel team for more than 10 years. As Executive Director, Christy oversees all aspects of the organization, including the residential programs and any new programs. She is responsible for fundraising, fiscal responsibility and providing leadership support to the management team. Christy also ensures that the agency’s goals, values and mission are being met and leads the agency into further expansion.

After completing her BA from the University of Western Ontario and her Diploma in Child and Youth Work from Humber College, Christy worked at YSAP (Youth Substance Abuse Program), where she gained in-depth experience with youth addictions. While at YSAP, Christy decided to pursue a career working for a non-profit organization which supported youth. She chose Our Place Peel because it offers a one of a kind program in the Region of Peel, helping empower youth and putting the youths’ needs first and foremost.

Christy finds it very rewarding to see youth build the confidence to meet and exceed the goals they set for themselves and to look into the future with a positive outlook. “OPP is extremely important for the community as we are the only emergency shelter for homeless youth within the Region of Peel,” says Christy. “The Region has grown over the years and the need to support youth who are in need of shelter or who are at-risk is more important than ever. We have to recognize that youth are not just leaders of tomorrow but also of today and, at the end of the day, our young people will be the ones who will shape the future.”

She also appreciates the support the organization receives from the community. “I am always amazed at the commitment of the many volunteers who work endless hours to support the work that we do with in the community. Without volunteers, our work would suffer as we rely on them to support the youth, to guide the agency and to raise funds to ensure that Our Place Peel can thrive. Volunteers give up their free time to help make the community a better place.”

There are a variety of different reasons why young people end up homeless, yet the need for services and programs to assist these young people remain the same. With Christy’s passionate leadership, Our Place Peel will continue to support these youth so they can have a better future.

Crystal BenoitShelter Manager
Crystal Benoit joined Our Place Peel three years ago as a front line youth worker. As Shelter Supervisor, she is now responsible for supervising all front line staff, recruiting new staff, students and volunteers, preparing reports for the Executive Director, chairing weekly staff meetings, sitting on committees and dealing with maintenance issues for the shelter.

Crystal brings the benefit of her nearly nine years experience working with children, youth and families and Social Services education to her role at Our Place Peel. She has previously worked for the Métis Child, Family and Community Services of Winnipeg, Child and Family Services of Winnipeg, and as a Child and Youth Worker in Group Homes. 

Crystal believes it’s important for youth to stay connected to the resources and neighbourhoods they’re familiar with. “When youth come to us, they’re often afraid because they don’t know what they’re going to do next. By the time they leave our program, they know our Youth Workers, Youth Support Coordinator and Resource Counselor are always here to help, whether they live at Our Place Peel or are living in the community. Because of that, these youth often call to let our staff know how they are doing or if they need guidance, and that’s very rewarding.”

Claudett BaileyResidential Manager
Claudett Bailey has been working with youth and families in Peel for over 10 years, and has been instrumental in making a difference in the lives of youth, families and the community.  Her inspiration comes from watching her parents work together in Ministry for over 20 years.  Claudett is an active member of community groups that focus mainly on youth issues around poverty, oppression, crime prevention and homelessness.  She continues to raise awareness about these issues through public speaking and volunteer work in the Peel Region.

While holding a Child Youth Worker Diploma with Honours, Claudett continues to receive training as a member of the Concurrent Disorders Resource Network through Canadian Mental Health Association.

Claudett came to Our Place Peel in 2005, and has worked as a front-line Youth Worker, Youth Support Coordinator, and she is now the Residential Manager at Our Place Peel 1.  Claudett is responsible for recruiting, training and supervising a team of staff, students and volunteers. She prepares monthly reports, collects statistics to identify trends, and recommends changes or alterations to the program to help the youth succeed.

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