Hunger stalks Canada: According to a newly released annual report by Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank, over one in ten people in Toronto, Canada, depend on food banks, indicating a 36% rise in unique clients from the previous year. According to a statement from the Daily Bread Food Bank, 3.49 million clients visited Toronto food banks in the past year, which is almost 1 million more in comparison of the lastyear and a 273% rise from pre-pandemic levels.
- Toronto food banks served a record-breaking 3.49 million client visit in between April 1, 2023to March 31, 2024 nearly one million more than the previous year. According to the Who’s Hungry Report 2024, this number is greater than the total population of the City of Toronto. Today, over 10% of Torontonians depend on food banks.
- And more than ever, we are witnessing people entering our doors and use our emergency services for the first time after never having thought of using food banks. The rising cost of living is making it impossible to keep up, despite food bank clients reporting higher employment rates and wages.
Another Canada Food Banks Report
According to another Food Banks Canada report on food bank visits nationwide, 32% of food bank clients are new immigrants who have been in the country for ten years or less, which is a considerable rise from the previous year. The majority of clients in this group came in the previous two years. According to the Food Banks Canada report, the relentless “one-two punch of housing and food inflation” has caused nearly 30% of Canadian food banks to report running out of food. This unthinkable growth rate cannot be sustained by Canadians or food banks.
Who’s Hungry Report 2024
As presented in the Who’s Hungry report 2024, every visit to the food bank is a failure of policy a call to action from actual people living in poverty. Together, we are urging all tiers of government to develop practical, long-term solutions to eradicate food insecurity and poverty. As per the Who’s a Hungry Report 2024,“every resident of the Toronto will be able to live a stress free life and understand their right to food with the support of stronger policies around affordable housing, newcomer supports, decent wages, and higher social assistance rates.”
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In Mississauga, food insecurity is considered an emergency
The city council of Mississauga, which is next to Toronto, approved a motion a few days ago to declare food insecurity an emergency. Over 9 million pounds of food were distributed by food banks last year, which is 55% more than the year before. Of those, 1 in 3 was children, who are among the most vulnerable members of our community. The City of Mississauga has the fastest-growing rate of food bank users in the province, surpassing the average.
- The cost of housing, gas, and other necessities like medicine, clothes, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies is going up for many locals.
- Many people in Mississauga’s communities are now at risk due to the underfunding of vital programs and services, unstable financial support, and inadequate government assistance.
