Food bank use is widening and more people are accessing them for the first time, local providers say
About 40% of food bank users in April 2023-March 2024 had never used one before: Feed Ontario
This year's Make the Season Kind campaign is in support of Hamilton Food Share. Throughout December, CBC Hamilton is taking a look at food insecurity in the region and shining a light on the local efforts to help.
There's an unprecedented increase in people needing food aid, and many are seeking it out for the first time, says the executive director of a food-rescue organization in Burlington, Ont.
"Poverty is not only deepening for people who were already experiencing food insecurity, but it's also widening," Karen Randell, executive director of Food For Life, told CBC Hamilton.
"Households who have never experienced food insecurity in the past are accessing food programs for the first time because their budgets cannot stretch the way they used to."
Food For Life collects and distributes goods that would otherwise be thrown out. This includes food taken off grocery store shelves and goods that suppliers consider surplus and never makes it to stores, Randell said. She said the organization supports about 100 programs in Halton and Hamilton, including food banks and pantries.
On Dec. 2, Feed Ontario — a network of more than 1,200 food banks and hunger-relief programs — released a report examining data from food banks in the province between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. It found over one million people accessed a food bank in the province. Of those, about 40 per cent had never used one before.
Compared to the same period in 2019 to 2020, there has been an 86 per cent increase in people accessing Ontario food banks, Feed Ontario said.
More questions about the 'face of hunger'
Feed Ontario said 24 per cent of households visiting food banks report employment is their main source of income, double the rate reported pre-pandemic. Today, about 60 per cent of users rely on provincial social assistance.
"I think unfortunately, there's always been this kind of acceptance of a population that is experiencing food insecurity and for some reason people have been OK with it because they're on social assistance," Randell said. "We're definitely hearing more questions around the face of hunger."
The Salvation Army offers social services and food aid at its Fort Erie Community and Family Services location in Niagara, and at two Hamilton Community and Family Services locations: one downtown and one in Dundas.
The Fort Erie Salvation Army food bank served 37 per cent more households in 2024 compared to 2023, the organization told CBC Hamilton. In the downtown area, the number increased by 18 per cent and it went up by 38 per cent in Dundas.
The percentage of new clients made up 42 per cent of users in Fort Erie, said Cortney Harkin, Salvation Army public relations officer for southwestern Ontario.
In 2023, about three per cent of users surveyed reported an income of over $2,500 per month, which is roughly minimum wage in Ontario. Now, 17 per cent of users report earning at least that much.
Harkin said they're also seeing more first-time users and newcomers who report moving to Fort Erie seeking affordable housing.
"Families who have always managed even with two jobs are now struggling to get through — especially during the holidays — but also day to day," she said.
The Salvation Army says about 13 per cent of food bank clients in Hamilton are seniors and children represent about 38 per cent.
Compared to food-bank use by people of working age, use among children and seniors is growing more slowly, Feed Ontario found, adding it is likely because both groups benefit from poverty-reduction programs.
For example, Feed Ontario said that after five years of consecutive growth, the percentage of food bank users who were seniors started to decrease following a 10 per cent top-up to Old Age Security (OAS) in 2022.
"Similarly, several investments have been made to help families with children, such as lower-cost child care, which can help reduce the strain on already tight budgets," the Feed Ontario report said.
Randell said she's still seen a local increase in use by seniors, and that for people on fixed incomes, inflation is especially concerning. She said she's also seen more need from school nutrition programs.
At the downtown Salvation Army in Hamilton, many seniors come to programming specifically for older people, including activities and a hot meal, Harkin said. She said 13 per cent of food bank clients in Hamilton are seniors and children are about 38 per cent.
Many food banks reducing amount they provide
The Salvation Army Fort Erie Community and Family Services reports a 54 per cent increase in the amount of food that has been distributed this year, compared to this time in 2023. It also reports:
- The number of households it served in 2024 compared to 2023 has gone up by over 37 per cent
- The amount of food it distributed increased by about 40 per cent over last year
- The number of households served in 2024 compared to 2023 increased by 18 per cent at the downtown location and 38 per cent at the Dundas location
Feed Ontario reports that due to "record-high demand and resource shortages," 40 per cent of food banks reduced the amount of food they provide, and half have cut services.
Food For Life has been fortunate not to have reductions, Randell said, but if current trends persist and they don't find additional suppliers, that could be a possibility next year.
She said the organization had noticed a decline in financial donations that she attributes to people having less to give.
Donations "make such a significant impact," at the Salvation Army, Harkin said, but they've been declining year over year since the pandemic.
In Hamilton, they distributed 40 per cent more food this year than last, but haven't had any reductions, she said.
In Fort Erie, the food bank spends $400 per day to supplement donations and stock shelves, said Harkin. They've also had to limit the amount of food a family can take home — for example, six eggs in one visit, no matter how many members in the family.
"And most days, their shelves are completely empty by closing time," Harkin said.
She added it's important to remember that food bank statistics represent real people who are "facing impossible choices every day," such as: "Do I pay rent or do I have a Christmas for my family?"
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