Regional council has approved almost $2 million to lease a Queen Street motel property to provide the city with a youth shelter.

During an in-camera session at Thursday’s (Oct. 27) Peel Region council meeting, councillors approved $1.8 million to lease the 7 and 7 Motel property on Queen Street, just west of Goreway Drive, to provide Brampton with a desperately needed shelter for homeless youth.

“We’ve identified the location and the support that’s going to be needed,” Brampton Coun. Gael Miles confirmed after the closed-door decision that was later rubber-stamped in a public session.

According to regional staff, the money would provide annual operating costs and come from the funds allocated under the provincial government’s Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative.