Residents of Wyewood Road, Malton-Mississauga, support youth housing initiatives but are calling on the City of Mississauga for transparency, accountability, and proper planning after a publicly funded youth housing facility was established without prior community consultation.

What Needs to Change:
We, the residents of Wyewood Road in Malton–Mississauga, are raising this petition to seek transparency, accountability, and meaningful public engagement regarding the use of the property located at 3780 Wyewood Road as a youth shelter or transitional housing facility.

Our community only became aware of the intended use of this property on or about January 24, 2026, when residents received a flyer in their mailboxes from REST Centres. This was the first notice provided to residents, despite the fact that significant public funding (reported to be approximately $1.4 million) had already been committed.

Wyewood Road is a quiet, low-density residential street, home to families, seniors, and long-term residents. Like many communities across Mississauga, we value safety, stability, and the peaceful enjoyment of our neighbourhood.

We Want to Be Absolutely Clear:
Our concerns are not rooted in opposition to supporting vulnerable youth.

We strongly believe that youth facing housing insecurity deserve care, dignity, supervision, and properly resourced support systems. We support youth settlement initiatives when they are transparent, well-planned, appropriately supervised, and located where comprehensive supports are available.

However, the process, governance, and oversight surrounding this particular property have raised serious and legitimate concerns.

 Key Concerns:

1. Lack of Transparency and Resident Engagement

Residents were not informed or consulted prior to:

the purchase of the property for shelter use, or
the decision to operate it as a youth shelter or transitional housing facility.
No community meeting, public notice, or planning consultation was held before implementation.

After residents raised concerns, correspondence received from City representatives provided limited clarification and did not meaningfully address key questions. Residents felt their concerns were not meaningfully addressed despite repeated outreach.

Residents later learned that the Ward 5 Councillor attended and inaugurated the facility on January 29, 2026, reinforcing the perception that decisions were finalized long before residents were informed.

2. Public Funds, Property Valuation, and Ownership

Residents have raised questions regarding the purchase price of the property at 3780 Wyewood Road.

Based on residents’ knowledge of comparable home sales on Wyewood Road and nearby streets in 2025, similar properties were selling for approximately $1.0 million, whereas it has been stated that approximately $1.2 million was paid in connection with this property.

Given that public tax dollars were reportedly used, residents believe it is reasonable and appropriate to seek clarification regarding:

whether an independent appraisal was conducted,
whether fair market value was paid, and
how the purchase price was determined.
This request is not an allegation of wrongdoing, but a call for transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

Residents are also asking a simple and reasonable question:

If public funds were used, why is the property not registered in the name of the City of Mississauga?

Public money should be accompanied by public ownership, oversight, and accountability—particularly when a facility directly impacts a residential neighbourhood.

To date, residents have not received documentation clearly explaining:

the legal ownership structure,
how public funds are protected, or
how accountability to taxpayers is being enforced.

3. Zoning, Classification, and Oversight Concerns

Information provided directly to residents described the operation as:

a youth shelter or transitional housing facility, with
program delivery, staffing, and ongoing support services.

However, responses from City offices appear to treat the property as a permitted residential use, thereby avoiding zoning review, rezoning, or public consultation.

Residents are concerned there is a material difference between how the operation functions in practice and how it has been classified for planning purposes, raising questions about:

appropriate oversight,
supervision standards,
long-term impacts, and
regulatory consistency.

4. Need for Proper Youth Support Frameworks

We believe youth services should be delivered in locations that:

are properly zoned and planned for institutional or program-based use;
provide continuous supervision and wrap-around supports;
are close to healthcare, education, counselling, and social services; and
do not isolate vulnerable youth in low-density residential settings without integrated infrastructure.

This approach protects both youth well-being and community stability.

5. Broader Implications for Mississauga Residents

Residents have since learned that the City of Mississauga may be planning to fund additional similar facilities across the city.

Without transparency and consultation, more neighbourhoods may face the same situation, being informed only after decisions are finalized.

This raises broader concerns about:

public accountability,
responsible use of tax dollars, and
the role of residents in decisions that directly affect their communities.
 

What We Are Asking For

We respectfully call on the City of Mississauga, the Mayor, and City Councillors to:

Commit to full transparency regarding funding, ownership, zoning classification, and operational details of the Wyewood Road property.
Transfer ownership of the property to the City of Mississauga if public funds were used.
Establish clear, publicly accountable governance and oversight frameworks for youth housing initiatives.
Engage residents before future properties are acquired or repurposed.
Ensure youth shelters are located where comprehensive supports exist, protecting both vulnerable youth and residential communities.
 

This petition is directed to:

Mayor of Mississauga
Carolyn Parrish
mayor@mississauga.ca

Mississauga City Council (Ward 5)
Natalie Hart, Councillor – Ward 5
natalie.hart@mississauga.ca

City of Mississauga – Planning & Building Department

planning@mississauga.ca,  zoning@mississauga.ca

Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) – Mississauga–Malton
Deepak Anand, MPP
deepak.anandco@pc.ola.org

Members of Parliament (MPs)
Mississauga–Malton – Iqwinder Gaheer, MP
iqwinder.gaheer@parl.gc.ca

Mississauga–Brampton – Maninder Sidhu, MP
maninder.sidhu@parl.gc.ca

Residents note that despite outreach and awareness of the issue, no formal intervention or resolution addressing residents’ concerns was provided by the Mayor’s office or the Ward 5 Councillor, and decisions proceeded without resident engagement.

Residents wish to acknowledge that Deepak Anand, MPP for Mississauga–Malton, met with members of the Wyewood Road community, listened to residents’ concerns, and indicated his intention to raise the matter on behalf of residents with relevant stakeholders. We appreciate this engagement and encourage continued advocacy to ensure transparency, accountability, and lawful planning processes are upheld.

This Is About Good Governance — Not Opposition

We are not asking for exclusion.

We are asking for:

proper planning,
transparency,
accountability, and
respect for both residents and vulnerable youth alike.
Decisions involving public money and vulnerable individuals must not be made behind closed doors.

Call to Action

We urge residents of Mississauga and neighbouring communities to:

Sign this petition to demand transparency and accountability.
Share this petition to raise awareness across the city.
Stand together for responsible governance, lawful planning, and fair use of public funds.

Good governance protects everyone.