Hunger in Canada a complex problem

The problem of hunger in Canada isn’t going away. According to Food Banks Canada, an estimated 13 per cent of Canadians live in a state of food insecurity. That means they don’t have reliable access to an adequate amount of food that is safe, nutritious and of good quality.

It’s an astonishing statistic, and one that belies Canada’s global reputation for having an abundance of resources, including prodigious agricultural production and the natural ability to feed its populace.

It’s also a statistic that requires some explanation.

To begin with, food security isn’t really about food. Most often it’s about income. The people who go hungry in Canada almost always are in a low-income group. Their ability to afford good quality, nutritious food is consistently hampered by the cost of their housing, their utility bills and whatever other financial obligations that conflict with their budget for groceries.

Even within this group, however, it’s difficult to put a face on hunger in Canada. But we know this much: according to Food Banks Canada, 33 per cent are children, 32 per cent have a disability and five per cent are seniors (and the number of seniors turning to a food bank is reportedly rising). Most live in rental housing, but seven per cent own their home. Only four per cent are homeless.

While half of those households who use food banks report welfare as their primary source of income, 15 per cent are employed. They earn an income, but it’s just not enough.

A surprising number of food bank users, at least in Toronto, are well educated. That city’s Daily Bread Food Bank in 2013 found that 25 per cent of their clients had a university education.

Another surprise is the frequency of food bank use. The Ontario Association of Food Banks in 2013 found almost half of their members’ clients were first-time users. Many of them used the food bank only once. They didn’t come back, presumably because their personal financial crisis was temporary and ultimately resolved.

And so, while putting a face on Canadian hunger can be challenging, the statistics offer bleak numbers. This month, for example, the association expects 335,000 adults and children will visit a food bank in Ontario. It believes the root cause of hunger can be addressed by meeting the challenges of a low-income existence.

But until that happens, food banks will continue to stand between hunger and a nourishing meal for too many Canadians. — Peter Epp