12.06°C Vancouver
Ads

Oct 28, 2024 3:46 PM - The Canadian Press

Monthly food bank use soars to record 2 million, driven by cost of groceries, housing

Share On
monthly-food-bank-use-soars-to-record-2-million-driven-by-cost-of-groceries-housing
Its annual survey of food bank use in Canada says rapid inflation, housing costs and insufficient social supports are driving poverty and food insecurity.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Canada’s reliance on food banks has soared to a grim new milestone, according to data from Food Banks Canada.

The organization says it recorded more than two million visits in March 2024 – nearly double the monthly visits five years ago in March 2019, and six per cent above last year's record-breaking figure.

Its annual survey of food bank use in Canada says rapid inflation, housing costs and insufficient social supports are driving poverty and food insecurity.

That includes outsized demand from renters, racialized groups, people with disabilities, newcomers to Canada and residents across the North, and a "deeply concerning" need among seniors and families with children.

Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley says food banks are being pushed to “the brink” and low-income Canadians need help immediately.

The report calls on governments to introduce measures that include rent assistance and a monthly payment to low-income groups to help off-set rent and food costs.

“HungerCount 2024,” released Monday, says there were 2,059,636 visits to food banks across Canada in March 2024 — up six per cent from 2023 and 90 per cent from 2019.

It says one-third of food bank clients were children — a trend that's held steady but in 2024 totalled nearly 700,000 monthly visits while nearly one-in-five clients, or 18 per cent, were employed. Nearly 70 per cent lived in market rent housing.

One urgent recommendation is "a groceries and essentials benefit,” which Beardsley said could be achieved by rejigging the existing quarterly GST credit that goes to low-income Canadians.

“But we're asking for it to be increased and made monthly so that it can be a more predictable payment to folks who are really in need,” said Beardsley.

“It's really to offset those essential costs, the increases in rents that people are seeing, the increases in cost of essentials like food.”

In 2019, HungerCount recorded 1,086,280 monthly visits. There was no report in 2020 and monthly visits rose by 17 per cent to 1,272,580 in 2021, by 15 per cent to 1,465,721 in 2022 and by 32 per cent to 1,935,911 in 2023.

Although interest rates have dropped and inflation is slowing, Beardsley said that economic relief still depends on prices coming down and wages growing.

“People need money in their pockets today," she said.

Latest news

indias-home-minister-asks-border-states-to-be-on-high-alert
IndiaMay 07, 2025

India’s home minister asks border states to be on high alert

Amit Shah says he has met with the governors of states bordering Pakistan and Nepal and asked them “to maintain the availability of essential goods and services and to keep relief and rescue forces” on alert. “Instructed to monitor and take swift action on anti-national propaganda on all media platforms and to maintain seamless communication and security at vulnerable points,” Shah said in a social media post.
pedestrian-dies-after-being-hit-by-train-in-chilliwack
BCMay 07, 2025

Pedestrian dies after being hit by train in Chilliwack

A pedestrian has been reported dead after being hit by a train in Chilliwack. The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. The RCMP’s Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment reported the incident in a social media post. Police said the incident led to the closure of Young Road between Chilliwack Central Road and Alexander Avenue, adding that Broadway, which is between Chilliwack Central Road and First Avenue, was also closed due to the accident.
man-charged-after-mother-pushing-stroller-randomly-assaulted
BCMay 07, 2025

Man charged after mother pushing stroller randomly assaulted

Police in New Westminster say a person has been charged after an unprovoked stranger assault of a woman who was pushing a stroller earlier this week.They say the incident happened around 1 p.m. on Monday,officers were dispatched and immediately found someone matching the description of the suspect.Police say the suspect did not initially comply with officers but they were eventually able to de-escalate the situation and arrest the man. They say the 27-year-old now faces one count of assault causing bodily harm and one count of obstructing a police officer.
india-conducts-mock-drill-in-244-districts-amid-tension-between-pakistan-and-india
IndiaMay 07, 2025

India conducts mock drill in 244 districts amid tension between Pakistan and India

In view of the ongoing tension between Pakistan and India, India conducted mock drill in 244 districts on Wednesday, during which a complete blackout was imposed in these districts for some time. During the mock drill, people, employees and students were also taught rescue and evacuation methods in emergency situations. During the mock drill, many cities of Punjab including Jalandhar, Amritsar and Mohali-Ludhiana echoed with the sound of sirens. A mock drill was conducted in 20 districts of Punjab from 7.30 pm, as soon as the siren sounded, the lights went off, vehicles stopped on the roads
measles-cases-increase-in-alberta-22-more-new-cases-reported
AlbertaMay 07, 2025

Measles cases increase in Alberta, 22 more new cases reported

Measles cases in Alberta are increasing day by day and their number reached 287 yesterday. 22 new cases were reported on Tuesday, of which 17 are from the province's South Zone. No new cases have been reported from the Calgary area. Medical officials have been urging the provincial government for several months to make people aware of measles and the government launched a campaign for this on Monday. Measles vaccination will be increased in the coming days across the province. A hotline has also been set up for Albertans, where they can check their vaccination status. This disease has broken
ADS
Ads

Related News

ADS
Ads