High inflation and a broken social safety net are being cited as the culprits behind why Canada’s food banks are becoming strained under historically high demand in recent years.
Nationwide, usage of food banks has hit almost 1.5 million visits in March 2022 — up 35 per cent compared to pre-pandemic visits during the same time period in 2019.
“Canada’s food banks are facing uncharted challenges as turbulent economic conditions continue to exacerbate and deepen systemic inequities, especially for employed people earning low incomes, students, and seniors on fixed incomes,” said Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley, referencing the recently released Food Banks Canada HungerCount 2022 report.
The report — the only research study encompassing the country’s more than 4,750 food banks and community organizations — points to the effects rapid inflation and inadequate social supports are having on poverty, food insecurity and hunger in Canada.
Locally, that increase in users sits even higher, Barrie Food Bank executive director Sharon Palmer told BarrieToday.
“The national findings are very similar to what we are finding locally. The trends are very much the same," she said. "The only thing I would say is different is the level of increase we have seen is significantly higher than what the national findings are.
“If we compare ourselves at this time of year verus pre-pandemic, we are up about 150 per cent from September 2019 to this September in terms of the number of households we are serving," Palmer added.
As for the reason Barrie’s numbers are that much higher than the national average, Palmer explained it has a lot to do with the high proportion of individuals who are homeless in the community and who are making use of the food bank.
“That has grown dramatically in the last few years,” she said. “I think the housing prices in Barrie are very high. The increases that we’ve seen in housing here are very high compared to a lot of other places in Canada, and that’s a real contributor.”
The other factor, Palmer noted, is a higher number of students using the Barrie Food Bank compared to what would be seen at other food banks in Canada.
“We have a college in town, so some food banks would have that as a factor, but not all,” she said.
Palmer added if you look at the root causes of the challenges being faced by food bank users, it ultimately comes down to availability of affordable housing.
“The provincial social assistance rates, people on Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works and seniors’ pensions … they are not keeping up with the increases we are seeing in inflation. Those people are really struggling today,” she said. “Your buying power just isn’t what it was. The cost of housing has gone up and the cost of food has gone up. For those people in particular, I think, that’s a real concern.”
Palmer said she has a few theories as to why the cost of food has increased so significantly.
“There is certainly the cost of transportation, and fuel plays into that, but I have also seen record profits from the grocery chains. I don’t know where the solution lies in all of that, but certainly, when you look at food and housing, they are essential for everyone’s well-being," Palmer explained.
"Those are two areas from a policy perspective that I think our government needs to be thinking about how they can help people.”
While the local food bank was successful in meeting its food and financial targets during its recent Thanksgiving campaign, Palmer said with the ever-increasing costs and continuing increase in clients, the organization will undoubtedly be looking at raising more money and food as it heads into the Christmas season.
"Food Banks Canada's HungerCount 2022 report is a devastating wake-up call for all people living in Canada and our governments that we must take action to starve the hunger that is destroying communities and lives. Ending hunger in Canada is possible,” said Beardsley.
“We need to work together to make true and lasting change by pursuing a dual focus strategy that creates a minimum income floor for our most vulnerable populations, while working to address affordable housing, EI reform and new supports for Northern and remote parts of Canada," she added.
According to the FoodBanks Canada HungerCount 2022, the number of visits in March 2022 was 1,462,795 — which is up 15 per cent from 2021 and 35 per cent from 2019.
Hunger is affecting vulnerable populations more than ever. Here are some recent stats:
- Food bank use rose to the highest levels in Canadian history in 2022.
- Food bank clients who reported employment as their main source of income increased to 14.1 per cent in 2022 versus 12.5 per cent in 2021.
- Seniors accessing food banks has increased to 8.9 per cent versus 6.8 per cent before the pandemic.
- One-third of food bank clients are children (representing approximately 500,000 food bank visits in March 2022).
- Student visits to food banks increased to 7.1 per cent in 2022 versus 4.7 per cent in the previous year.
- The top three reasons people accessed a food bank this year were due to food costs, low provincial social assistance rates, and housing costs.
- To create a Canada where no one is left behind, and no one goes hungry, Canada must adopt a dual approach to address the root causes of food bank use by addressing low incomes and poverty and the skyrocketing costs of living.
