Hungry Canadians a Growing Concern
Food Banks Across the Country Busy as More People Look for Help
Feb 8, 2009
Food Banks Canada says several hundred thousand people across the country do not have enough food to eat on a regular basis. According to a 2008 report, "Hunger Count 2008," 704,414 people used a Canadian food bank in an average month.
The number of monthly users has stayed the same since 1997, with more than 700,000 in each month of the year.
More Working Canadians Visiting Food Banks
The number of working Canadians turning to food banks is also growing, as higher-paying jobs become harder to find and costs such as heating, clothing, food and rent continue to go up. Close to 15 per cent of those who accessed a food bank in 2008 were working, up from 11.9 per cent in 2002.
"The term 'new poor' is gaining currency in some parts of the country, as people attempt to come to grips with the fact that it is possible to be employed and still need assistance from a food bank to make ends meet," sayd Food Banks Canada "Hunger Count 2008."
"This surprising and discouraging fact brings home the reality that people from all walks of life can find themselves at the doorstep of their local food bank."
Children Among Highest Food Bank Users
Half of those using food banks in 2008 were two-parent families with children, the report further notes, meaning traditional ideas about those who use food banks are changing. Children under the age of 18 made up 37 per cent of those who used food banks last year.
The number of children using food banks was also higher in rural areas.
Some Parts of Canada Busier than Others
The number of food bank users increased slightly in four Canadian provinces including British Columbia, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Numbers were highest in Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and Ontario.
Saskatchewan saw a significant decrease in the number of people using food banks, from 2.5 per cent in 2007 to 1.8 per cent in 2008, according to the report. However, the drop may be due to the number of people who received money as part of the Residential Schools Settlement Agreement Common Experience Payments, which were given to those who had attended residential schools.
More Still to be Done
As part of its report, Food Banks Canada made a number of recommendations urging the federal government to do more to combat hunger.
- Create a Federal Poverty-Reduction Strategy with Measurable Targets and Timelines – A specific group aimed at reducing poverty will allow for better coordination of federal government programs.
- Improve the Working Income Tax Benefit – The number of those who work and use food banks increased in almost every province between 2007 and 2008.
- Strengthen the Canada Child Tax Benefit – Raising the benefit amount to $5,000 per child per year will help more families cover the cost of raising children.
- Improve housing for rural Canadians – More than 14 per cent of those who rely on food banks live in rural areas, in a home they own. That’s compared to 6.4 per cent overall.
