The economy may be doing well, but many people aren't: Daily Bread Food Bank's report on hunger and poverty in Toronto released today
TORONTO, Sept. 18, 2017 /CNW/ - Based on in-person surveys of more than 1,400 food bank clients, and client visit numbers from food banks across Toronto, the 2017 Who's Hungry Report has revealed some sobering trends:
- Despite on-paper economic prosperity, food bank visits are back to recession levels, with 990,970 total client visits in Toronto in the last year. Scarborough in particular has seen a 30% increase in the number of people accessing food banks.
- Clients are relying on food banks longer than before: in 2010, clients accessed food banks for 12 months on average; in 2017, the average length of time increased to 24 months.
- Seniors are the fastest-rising age group of food bank clients, raising concerns about income security in that cohort.
"Many seniors we surveyed aren't receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement, though many might qualify," said Richard Matern, Director, Research and Communications at Daily Bread Food Bank and the author of the 2017 Who's Hungry Report. "This is a red flag because the GIS is often highlighted as an example of a successful basic income program and yet many seniors are falling through the cracks and needing food banks. With the province launching basic income pilots, this is an important finding to add to the mix."
"I have long believed that our clients are the canary in the coalmine for economic trends that will eventually affect us all, and the fact that our agencies are seeing more seniors is very concerning to me," said Gail Nyberg, Executive Director, Daily Bread Food Bank. "All these numbers raise questions and point to a state of affairs that is not being captured by standard economic indicators."
To create the 2017 Who's Hungry report, a team of 80 volunteers spent 12 weeks conducting one-on-one surveys with more than 1,400 food bank clients in member agencies across Toronto. The survey collected demographic, household, and financial data, and also asked food bank clients about their lived experience with hunger and poverty.
To download a copy of the 2017 Who's Hungry Report, visit www.dailybread.ca/WhosHungry2017.
About Daily Bread Food Bank
Daily Bread Food Bank is an independent, non-profit, charitable organization that is fighting to end hunger in our communities. A distribution hub, Daily Bread serves people through neighbourhood food banks and meal programs in almost 130 member agencies across Toronto. Daily Bread also works towards long-term solutions to hunger by conducting research, raising public awareness, and running innovative programs to support people on low incomes. Visit www.dailybread.ca to learn more.
SOURCE Daily Bread Food Bank
Benita Aalto, Senior Manager, Communications, T: 416-203-0050 x 238, M: 416-450-2196, E: [email protected]
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