Despite the economic recovery, more Ontarians are turning toward the food banks.
The Ontario Association of Food Banks has released it’s latest report, entitled “Running on Empty.”
Executive Director Ed Borowski says the number of Ontario residents using food banks has climbed to 400 thousand, and now sit third amongst the provinces in Canada for use of food banks.
Borowski says the segment of the population relying on food banks is at the tail end of the economic recovery, and two-thirds of their income is being spent on housing and utilities.
He says this especially effects seniors on a fixed income, because that usually leaves about 100 dollars in their budget per month for food and other costs.
In fact, the number of seniors using food banks jumped from four per cent in 2009, to 12 per cent in 2010.
And there is also a shift in who is using the food bank.
Borowski says for the first time, single adults make up the largest group of food bank users at 38 per cent, followed by single parents at 30 per cent.
He says this shows that those who used to be able to cope, no longer can.
Borowski says rising food costs, housing, and utilities is straining incomes, and supports and wages are not keeping pace.
The OAFB is hoping that this will become a platform and an issue in the next provincial election.
They’ve also launched an e-card campaign on their website (www.oafb.ca) to get politicians talking about the issue and come up with solid solutions.
