Magnitude of Ontario food bank usage "almost unfathomable," says report

An "unprecedented" number of Ontarians are turning to food banks for support, according to a new report by the Ontario Association of Food Banks.

More than 375,000 Ontarians rely on food banks each month, an increase of 19 per cent since last fall, said report author, Adam Spence - the association's executive director.

In 2008 food bank use in Ontario jumped 11 per cent and during the recession in the 1990s usage rose 10 per cent.

"When you think about a population that is served every month that is equal to the size of the City of London (Ontario) the magnitude of that is almost unfathomable," said Spence.

The "alarming" numbers are a counterpoint to leading economic indicators that point to a technical end to the recession, he said.

In Toronto, the number of people using food banks has risen 14 per cent since last year. Food bank use in Ottawa has gone up nearly 10 per cent and in Windsor, Ont. 25 per cent, according to the report.

Many food banks are struggling to keep up with increased demand with one in four reducing the amount of food distributed by their hampers, Spence said.

For the first time, the Ontario Hunger Report also provided a snapshot into life circumstances and living conditions of Ontarians who frequent food banks finding tens of thousands of Ontarians go without fruits and vegetables, necessary health care and are living in residences that require major repair.

In nearly half of households with children that use food banks at least one family member does not have a warm winter coat. In one quarter of these households children do not eat breakfast once or more per week.

One third of Ontarians turning to food banks are recent immigrants and more than half of that group have a post secondary degree or diploma, Spence said noting the quality of life for new Canadians is "severely constrained" by lack of recognition by educational institutions and potential employers and inadequate remedial training programs.

The health and available supports of households turning to food banks are also poor, Spence said. In 45 per cent of households turning to food banks at least one member has a chronic health condition including diabetes, asthma, heart disease cancer or HIV/AIDS. In more than half of households relying on food banks at least one member has gone without glasses, dental care or drugs because of the cost.

Spence said the province needs to revise its "regressive" rules around social assistance including increasing restrictive asset limits for applicants, and create a farm donation tax credit for Ontario producers who support local food banks.

"Food banks can continue to provide the necessary relief that is required, but only if that is matched with the required political will to reduce hunger and poverty," Spence said.