March sees record high of 2.2 million food bank visits

Food banks nationwide faced unprecedented demand in March, with nearly 2.2 million visits, the highest ever recorded.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Food banks nationwide faced unprecedented demand in March, with nearly 2.2 million visits, the highest ever recorded.

The organization’s latest HungerCount report revealed visits surpassed last year’s record-breaking figures as food insecurity continues to climb nationwide.

Many Canadians relying on donations, 19.4 per cent, are gainfully employed, compared to 12 per cent in 2019.

“This year, the cumulative impact of inflation has further eroded the purchasing power of people who are employed, even among those whose incomes are above the official poverty line,” the report states.

“Housing costs devour most of the disposable income of low-income households. People with the lowest incomes, which includes people receiving provincial social assistance, spend 66 per cent of their disposable income on housing. In 2021, that figure was 49 per cent.”

Children now account for more than a third of all food bank clients.

Additionally, food banks have seen a “significant increase” in two-parent households, rising from 18.8 per cent in 2019 to 23 per cent this year.

The problem isn’t likely to improve as many clients are newcomers to Canada within the last decade, accounting for 34 per cent of all food bank clients.

“Recent newcomers who are currently employed generally have precarious work arrangements and receive lower wages. These two factors drive the greater levels of food insecurity among this group,” it said.

On a national level, the exponential growth in food bank usage in the last six years “far surpasses” anything ever experienced by the sector.

“Food bank usage rates have doubled nationally since 2019, including a 5.2 per cent increase in the last year. This growth means food banks are finding it increasingly difficult to fully meet the demand.”

“The cumulative increases in the cost of basic necessities such as shelter and food have created a sustained affordability crisis for many people in Canada.”

This is reflected in the Consumer Price Index, which has increased by over 18 per cent since 2021, with costs for shelter, food and transportation jumping by 26 per cent, 25 per cent, and nearly 20 per cent, respectively.